Traveller site application near A12 in Kessingland withdrawn

The applicant, Kayleigh Smith, hoped to position eight touring caravans and eight static caravans on land west Of London Road in Kessingland, Lowestoft.

The site is situated near the Kessingland Camping & Caravanning Club and Africa Alive, just off the A12.

Ms Smith planned to change the use of the arable field to permanent "Gypsy / Traveller occupation".

A street view image of the site identified for the traveller site (Image: Perfect Pitch Planning Services Limited)

But the bid lodged to East Suffolk Council had led to 104 formal objections - with five supporting the application.

The plans have now been withdrawn.

READ MORE: Traveller family seeks to make camp in Norfolk village permanent

Some people objecting raised that there is already a traveller site in the village so they "didn't understand" why the applicant had not tried to extend the existing one.

Many comments called the existing traveller site to be a "success" though raised "cohesion concerns" about welcoming more of the travelling community into the area.

Proposed site location positioning of the gypsy caravans in Kessingland (Image: Perfect Pitch Planning Services Limited)

Some people suggested that travelling communities have "large families" which would "increase pressure" on already struggling schools.

Another objection said that the plans would cause "irreversible damage" and increase "safety issues".

READ MORE: 30-vehicle 'unauthorised' traveller encampment sets up in coastal car park

Others said that putting caravans on the field would "harm" the "idyllic" and "pleasant countryside", that already neighbours a commercial caravan park.

An outline showing the map of the proposed travellers site (Image: Perfect Pitch Planning Services Limited)

Kessingland Parish Council had also objected to the plans, as well as echoing concerns previously mentioned, they said the site would impact tourism in Kessingland and Lowestoft.

But the applicant argued the site was an "ideal" location and they would maintain hedgerows and plant new ones to "soften any visual impact" of the traveller site.

They added Suffolk County Council has pledged to "create 21 traveller sites" across the district and due to the aforementioned "success" of the other site the applicant identified this area as ideal.