A TRAVELLER who said he received hate mail after applying to build a house said he wanted to ‘simply live a peaceful life’.

Oathie Sykes, submitted plans to Burnley Council to build a three-bedroom house for his family and allow six static caravan pitches on land at Spa Wood Farm.

The home improvements builder has owned and lived at the farm off Billington Road for the last 16 years.

Mr Sykes had said he wanted to make a more permanent home to live in but said he received dozens of abusive letters through his letterbox after putting in the planning application.

He said: “I don’t understand why everyone is against what I want to do.

“My family and I have been here for 16 years and we use the shops, schools, services and we have integrated into the community.

“Because people know we are travellers they automatically assume there’s going to be lots of different people living here.

“We have been tarred with the same brush as travellers who have caused trouble.

“It’s just going to be my family who live here and family that comes over to stay, lots of families have relatives round to stay for the weekend.

“We have never caused any trouble with people, we just want to live a peaceful life.

“We’ve had these letters come through our letter box recently, but why now?”

Within a planning document, a spokesman for the applicant said the dwelling would be a bungalow.

He said: “In terms of the replacement dwelling, this element of the proposals will provide a modern dwelling that will provide the applicant and his immediate family with a sustainable level of accommodation.

“The proposed development will not alter the site circumstances attached to Spa Wood Farm in any material way, so as to adversely affect the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

The council will make a final decision on the plan in the coming months.

“In reality, the application to regularise the current lawful use of the site, must be seen as having a nett benefit contribution to the locality.”