MORE than a dozen caravans for gypsy families could be built at a site in the Ribble Valley.

Plans have been submitted to the borough council to construct 13 residential caravans at Acorn Lodge, Clayton-le-Dale, by applicant Naomi Beard.

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The site lies at the rear of Shajan Indian Restaurant in Longsight Road which currently has 20 caravans onsite, along with a toilet block and washing facilities.

Cllr Peter Ainsworth, who represents the area on the council, said that lots of residents would be against the application.

He said: “People have complained about the site before and I can imagine it being a problem again.

“Residents have said they think the area has turned into a business park; it looks very different to how it used to be.

“It’s not loud or noisy, but the site has problems with its access.

“When you go down the road you get cars and vans poking out into the road and there have been accidents there from time to time.”

In a document sent to the council, a spokesman for the applicant said Mrs Beard, along with her family, meet the statuary definitions of "persons of nomadic habit of life", and travel seven to eight months of the year.

He said: “The mobile caravans belong to elderly and in some cases infirm gypsies on the verge of retiring from travelling.

“The applicant with her husband have established good ties with the local community from their children progressing through the local schools, onto permanent employment and prosperity.

“Through their skills and entrepreneurial drive, they have built a reputation for providing essential needs for elderly gypsy families.

“We are confident to have demonstrated the development would blend into the countryside, taking into account landscape mitigation measures and would not have an adverse impact on neighbouring amenity space.”

A council spokesman said its policy on Gypsy and Traveller sites show that new sites must meet certain criteria.

In a document published on the council’s website he said: “Our best estimate is that there are at least 96 local Gypsies and Travellers in the borough.

“This is a very small population when compared to other local authority areas within the Lancashire sub-region.

“There is only one form of accommodation provision for Gypsies and Travellers in the area which is private site based.

“There are no socially rented sites and no unauthorised developments.”

Clayton-le-Dale Parish Council declined to comment.