BOROUGH planners were accused of burying their heads in the sand after turning down plans for a traveller camp on green belt land.

Hyndburn Council's planning committee voted to refuse permission for the Smith family to set up the camp on land off Back Lane in Baxenden.

But agent for the Smiths, Mike Carr, said an appeal would be lodged and added the committee had been short sighted in refusing permission.

More than 200 objections had been received against controversial plans for a traveller site in Baxenden.

Part retrospective planning permission had been sought for the change of use of the land to create a family caravan site to provide accommodation for four families.

Mr Smith and his family moved onto the site in December 2018 and have occupied three pitches, with a larger touring caravan currently in place of the proposed static caravan/chalet.

As part of a consultation, 269 letters of objection were received by the council, as well as 12 letters of support for the application.

Speaking against the proposals, ward councillor Kath Pratt said: "There may be a need for traveller sites in Hyndburn but surely not on green belt land.

"The green belt around Baxenden is priceless because the area is built up and care is needed to protect wildlife.

"It is the opinion of the residents of the area that this development is entirely inappropriate and it is certainly not in the public interest to allow it to go ahead."

Mr Carr said: "Green belt land is not sacrosanct any more. It will be developed in Hyndburn, Blackburn, Burnley, Pendle and everywhere else because everyone knows the government wants to boost housing supply.

"Unfortunately for members, that includes provision of accommodation for travelling people and less well-off people - it's about every section of the community."

"There will be an appeal."

According to officers, the considerations in favour of development did not clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt.

And members agreed with the recommendation, though chief planning and transportation officer stressed there was no evidence the Smith family were in any way involved in criminal activity, despite representations from people suggesting otherwise.

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Eamonn Higgins, said he would have been minded to approve the proposal if it had been on brownfield land.

He said: "It's very well maintained and off the beaten track - I thought it was quite nice.

"That being said, it is green belt land and we just can't afford to set a precedent.

"The very special circumstances that are needed to develop in the green belt have not been met and we have to keep within planning laws."

Cllr Dave Parkins added: "Some of the comments made by members of the public against the Smith family and the traveller community are abysmal.

"These are good people and they would do anything for anyone.

"I have got a lot of gypsy friends and this is not fair for the people of Baxenden to say these things."