SOMERSET Council has received a planning application for the construction of a new Gypsy and Traveller site near Bridgwater.

Mr Orchard, Mr Douglas, Mr Loveridge, and Mr Wells have applied to build the new site on an area of land near Batch Road in Puriton.

It is proposed that the site formerly used for equestrian purposes would be converted to house "four Gypsy and Traveller pitches with a total of five static caravans, four touring caravans and timber amenity blocks, along with hardstanding, fencing and associated landscaping".

The application has been submitted "partly retrospectively", and states that there are already occupants lined up to move into one of the four planned plots.

According to the design and access statement, an equestrian storage building would be converted to provide domestic and hardstanding storage for the occupants of Plot 4, who operate a landscaping business.

It says: "The pitches are proposed to be occupied by persons who fulfil the definition of Gypsies and Travelers."

Details of the dimensions and appearance of the proposed mobile homes have not been provided as part of the application.

The application adds: "Mobile homes are by their nature interchangeable structures; therefore, it is inappropriate to condition details of size or appearance in a more restrictive manner."

The applicants cited a 2011 needs assessment undertaken by Sedgemoor District Council, which identified a need for 45 permanent pitches, five transit pitches and five plots for travelling show people in the district.

The council have since confirmed that there is a remaining shortfall of 29 Gypsy and Traveller pitches needed.

Mr Orchard, Mr Douglas, Mr Loveridge, and Mr Wells said Sedgemoor District Council failed to deliver on its commitment to Gypsies and Travellers in the area, stating that their proposed new site in Puriton would help to deliver the results of the former council assessment.

"Sedgemoor has failed to deliver its policy commitments relating to an updated assessment of need and the preparation of a development plan document to address the unmet need and delivery of pitches for Gypsies and Travellers," the application reads.

"The failure of policy and significant unmet need weighs heavily in favour of this proposal and the proposal accords with the interim approach of delivering pitches through individual planning applications."

Updates to the application can be viewed by searching for the application number 42/23/00013 on the Somerset Council website, and comments will remain open until November 24.

Approval for the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site's construction could be given as early as November 25.