TRAVELLERS' SITE BID SPARKS ROW

ANGRY villagers have hit out at the illegal development of a travellers’ site near Kenilworth.

The operation, which has been dubbed as ‘slick’ by one resident, saw around 15 caravans pull up onto a field at Kites Nest Lane.

Residents say the travellers, who own the land, were using diggers and road rollers to develop the plot without planning permission.

Chris Lewis, chairman of the Beausale, Haseley, Honiley and Wroxall parish council, said: “The travellers moved in on Friday and started excavating the land with equipment before getting planning permission.

“They submitted an application just before 5pm with Warwick District Council for a permanent travellers site.

“But the district council moved quickly and issued a stop notice, which lasts for 28 days and means no other caravans can move onto the site and no further work can be done.

“This has been a very well-planned project by them (the travellers) and they obviously meant for it to coincide with the bank holiday shutdown.

“Most people are outraged by this, they’ve placed themselves on green belt land.”

Concerned residents have spoken about their fears to the Times.

A resident of Beausale Lane, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The whole move was very slick. “Why should they be able to move onto green belt land without any trouble, but the rest of us need to seek planning permission?

“Residents are concerned about their properties, about noise levels and whether the infrastructure will be able to cope with this. The roads are bad enough as it is without big trucks rolling up the lanes.”

Councillor Sue Gallagher (Con, Leek Wootton) was amazed at the rate of the development but praised Warwick District Council officers for their swift action over the bank holiday.

She said: “The travellers swept in with military precision and that is what is most disturbing for people.

“Everyone has to apply for planning permission in the same way, so now we’ll have to wait until planning officers look at the application before we can go any further.

“But the district council acted very quickly to issue a stop notice that was effective from Sunday at 6pm. If anyone breaks that notice then it becomes a legal matter.”

A Warwick District Council spokesman said: “A planning application has been submitted to us seeking permission for the change of use of the land for British Romani Gypsy families for 13 permanent pitches for mobile homes, 13 touring caravans for nomadic use only and 13 utility day rooms.

“The council is in the process of checking whether the application has been properly made and can be accepted. If the application is valid it will be considered through the normal planning process.”

A meeting is taking place on Saturday May 8 at Shrewley Village Hall, starting at 2pm, for residents to air their views about the situation.

Travellers declined to comment when the Times approached them.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

FUNDRAISER FOR WAVERLEY DAY CENTRE

A FUNDRAISING event is taking place to ensure a vital daycare centre in Kenilworth continues.

Waverley Day Centre, in Waverley Road, provides care for those aged 60 and over.

But it faces a potential budget cut from Warwickshire County Council, which means the
service could be lost if money is not raised elsewhere.

Colin Wilding, chairman of Kenilworth Community Care, said: “The centre offers elderly people transport from their homes to the centre, where they can sit together, go out on trips and have events such as bingo and sing-a-longs.

“Historically the council has given us grants, but because of the recession funding is tight, so we’re beginning to fundraise now.”

A garden party is being held on Saturday May 15, from 2pm at The Stone House, in High Street.

Attractions include crafts stalls, competitions for children, face painting and a chance to meet the Town Mayor.

A Warwickshire County Council spokesman said: “We’ve asked the centre to look at whether there is scope to reduce the money over the next year.

“They are now quite sensibly looking at how alternative funds could be raised.”

The garden party has been organised by the St Nicholas and St Barnabas Parish Church.

Admission costs 50p for adults and 25p for children, with no charge for those aged under four.

WEDDING RING LOST IN TRIP TO SKIP

A REGULAR recycler lost more than he bargained for when he chucked his heirloom wedding ring into a nine-tonne skip.

The accident happened when Darren Higham had taken a mid-week trip to the skip to off load fencing wood at the Household Waste Recycling Centre, in Princes Drive, Leamington.

But along with fencing wood, he accidently threw in his 70-year-old wedding band that had been passed down to him from his grandfather.

The 43-year-old, of Stretton Crescent, Whitnash, said: “I was a bit energetic with my last throw and my wedding ring slipped off my finger and straight into the skip.

“I left my name and contact details with staff there in case they were able to find it.

“I was told the skip would go to Derby the next day so I wasn’t too hopeful.

“I was absolutely devastated, I thought to myself I’ll never see that again.”

Darren, who has been married for 14 years and has two children, then went into hospital the following day to have surgery done to his shoulder.

“I had lost the ring betrothed to me by my beloved and also belonged to my grandad.

“So while I was lying in the hospital bed I had all sorts of thoughts going through my mind, such as if I was to die my wife wouldn’t even have my ring to remember me by.”

But two days later Darren received some good news – his ring had been found.

Staff at the recycling centre had rummaged around the skip for two days and had found his precious wedding band.

“I know the ring could easily be replaced with another from a shop but it wouldn’t be the same,” added Darren, who works at Higham Butchers, in St Margaret’s Road.

“I am very grateful to the team for taking the time out to look for it.”

Mickey Pitcher, 27, a recycling operative, said: “We dug around through about nine tonnes of wood over two days and then we found it.

“It’s not something we would usually do but we try our best to help.

“It was a relief when we finally got it because that meant we could stop going through a massive skip.”

To say thank you, Darren gave barbeque meat packs to the team.

SKYDIVE JUMP FOR MYTON HOSPICE

A GROUP of daredevil fundraisers will be throwing themselves out of a plane to raise money for Myton Hospice.

Louise Green, of Dalehouse Lane, Kenilworth, is taking part in a 10,000ft skydive in memory of her father Reg Gardiner, who had been staying at the hospice, in Myton Lane.

But Louise, 44, who is afraid of heights, is taking eight other people with her on June 5, as the group gets ready to take the plunge in Brackley Airfield, near Oxford.

She said: “My father was here for six weeks last year before he passed away – he had been battling with bowel cancer.

“The staff here are just fantastic, they provide the best environment for both the person staying at the hospice and their friends and family.

“The way I see it, even though I’m scared of heights, my fear will be over in a matter of a few seconds.

“But for people that are suffering with terminal illness, this fear is something they are constantly living with, so in comparison this doesn’t seem like such a sacrifice.”

The group of nine will be doing their skydive on Saturday June 5 and are hoping to raise £4,000.

Among those taking part are Myton Hospice employees Rachael Stevens and Rebecca Stevenson.

The divers will reach speeds of 120mph during the jump.

Rachel, who is part of the hospice’s community fundraising team, said that she is fulfilling her life-long ambition before she turns 40 next year.

She said: “I have always wanted to do a skydive but the circumstances have never been right before.

“I am looking forward to it but haven’t thought about the actual jump yet.

“I have raised £260 so far and am hoping to raise about £1,000 for the hospice.”

The participants will each be partnered by a qualified and experienced instructor for the challenge.

Myton Hospice provides vital care and support for people with terminal illnesses and their families and has three hospices in Coventry and Warwickshire.

There are 24 in-patient beds at the Warwick site, as well as a day hospice which is open five days a week.

There is still time to sign up for the skydive but new entrants need to return their forms within the next week.

To find out more, call 01926 838837 or visit www.mytonhospice.org.uk.