A LANDOWNER accused of blocking access to a football field and neighbouring properties has been granted temporary permission for a two-pitch caravan site.
Tony Janes was described, at the planning committee meeting by a council officer, of “not acting in a neighbourly manner” but councillors were told a temporary two-year permission would allow the impact of the site, and the agreed management plan, to be tested.
When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service Mr Janes denied he had blocked access to garages and two bungalows to those who have access rights over the lane, in his ownership, which will also provide access to the site.
He said access to the football field, near Church Road in Talywain, Pontypool, had been blocked as it was over his land, and denied talks with Torfaen Borough Council are ongoing as the planning committee had been told.
At the November 19 planning committee meeting, at the Civic Centre in Pontypool, council planning officer Justin Jones acknowledged 70 objections had been received by the council.
He said: “A lot of points raised other actions taken by the applicant in terms of blocking access to the field, blocking access for the bungalows and not acting in a neighbourly manner.
“Hopefully the applicant will reflect on that and we will seek to see if that can be resolved in a satisfactory manner and in terms of the field, as a council, we are looking to resolve that independently (of the planning application).”
Councillors were told there had previously been up to six caravans kept on land adjacent to the Blue Boar bungalow, owned by Mr Janes, since 2023 with some on land outside of his ownership and with no planning permission in place.
A planning application for four caravans, and as many parking spaces, was then made after the council began an enforcement investigation.
Planning officer Mr Jones said the application will reduce the number of caravans to two and two parking spaces, which will all be on land in Mr Janes’ ownership, with the site area reduced in size.
Caravans will only be allowed on site for no more than three months at a time and the management plan will require a registration log is kept and will have to be made available for inspection by the council at up to 24 hours notice.
Mr Jones said it was accepted there is a need for a transit site, with only one other in the borough, and a condition states it can only be occupied by Gypsies and Travellers as defined under Welsh planning guidance.
Councillors had been due to consider the application in December last year but it was withdrawn at the last minute when it was realised Mr Janes would no longer be living at Blue Boar, which remains in his ownership.
This November’s committee was told he, or a representative, will be expected to be present on site when caravans arrive.
Applicant Mr Janes, who is from the travelling community, said after the meeting: “I’m pleased I can put up people who are homeless, with nowhere to stay.
“They’ve got somewhere to live for three months their caravans can pull up there for three months as there aren’t enough caravan sites around Wales for travellers and it means they don’t have to pull on the side of the road and not have any facilities to go to the toilet or for the little kids to go to school and get an education.”
