A FAMILY of travelling show people has been refused permission to set up home on a green belt site at Warrington - even though they have already bought the land for £300,000.
Warrington Borough Council's development management committee voted 7-2 to reject the application, involving land to the north of Hall Lane, Stretton.
More than 100 objectors attended the meeting at the Town Hall and council officials set up a public address system to relay the debate to people in adjoining rooms because the council chamber was full.
Among objectors were Warrington South MP David Mowat, borough councillor Paul Kennedy, Stretton Parish Council and Stretton Residents' Group.
Two families of travelling show people sought permission to change the use of the site on which to set up home.
The meeting was told  married sisters Gail Camm and Deborah Seldon, with their husbands and three children would live on the site in two chalets and three caravan annexes.
Both families claimed to have local connections in that they had attended fairs and galas in the Warrington area for more than 40 years.
In addition to the homes, one children's ride, an arcade trailer, two lorries, two vans and three cars would be stationed or stored on the site.
But only the arcade trailer and one lorry would be parked in the open. The other items would be parked inside two existing permanent buildings.
Objectors claimed the applicants were not genuine travelling show people, that they had failed to consult with planners in line with planning regulations and that the development will have a harmful impact on the Green Belt and a nearby Listed building.
They also feared noise, traffic impact, pollution and harm on wildlife would be caused  if the plan went ahead.
Officers acknowledged that the development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt but argued that there were "very special circumstances" which meant the scheme should be approved.
These were the lack of  a site for travelling showpeople in Warrington despite a known unmet need for such a site.
The applicants are now thought likely to appeal against the council's decision.