Travellers demand planning answer

A family of Leicestershire travellers are accusing officials of "hiding their heads in the sand" over planning permission for a permanent plot.

The Finneys from Bagworth want to put in facilities around their caravans on the acre and a half they own.

But they said a series of temporary permissions meant they have spent money but not been able to improve the area.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said they were waiting for further guidance from central government.

Home ground

Paul and Sally Anne Finney want to put in a garden and permanent sewage facilities around their caravans for them and their seven children.

They first applied for planning permission in 2004, which was dismissed in 2005.

They have since been given two temporary licences but no alternative site had been found.

Mrs Finney said: "I have spoken to the council when they did originally come down and said 'Tell us what you want us to do, how you want us to develop the site, we want to work with you'.

"If you say jump we will ask how high, we will do anything as long as we are allowed to stay here."

Delayed decision

"You look out of the window and despair. We just want to make the place nice, for us, for the children, for everyone."

Mr Finney complained that they had wasted thousands of pounds on legal fees.

"It's like banging your head against a wall, it's costing thousands of pounds in legal fees but they are acting like ostriches by putting their heads in the sand, they just say reapply, reapply."

Steve Atkinson, chief executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: "I'm sure the Finneys want a permanent solution which is in everyone's interests but we think it is very sensible to wait for the regional plan which is published later in the year."