Despite opposition from locals, planners are recommending approval for a mobile home and touring caravan to be erected on the edge of a village near Grantham for use by a traveller.

Sam Smith of St Clements Court Leicestershire is seeking approval to use land north of Bennington Bait, Valley Lane, Long Bennington.

The planning committee of South Kesteven District Council is recommended to approve the application when it meets later this month, but nearby villagers and the Long Bennington Parish Council oppose the plan.

A report by council planning staff notes the site is in open countryside by the A1 and since the application was made, a 2m fence has been erected around the site. It has been occupied and during a recent site visit it was noted there were two caravans as well as a portaloo, a works transit van and trailer.

The report, prepared for the meeting on Wednesday February 17, continued: "This application seeks permission for the change of use of the land to a travellers' site for the provision of one mobile home and one touring caravan for a forestry worker."

The accomodation would be used by Mr Smith, who works as a landscape gardener and tree surgeon across the East Midlands, his wife and four children.

"The site has been chosen due to its proximity to employment opportunities and to allow for the children to continue their education at their existing school in Newark."

The report noted the family no longer wish to travel, though they met the definition of being gypsies.

However, Long Bennington Parish Council objected to the application saying it had a lack of details and contained errors, they feared it would set a precedent for further development and the proposal did not meet local and neighbourhood planning policies.

The parish council also raised highway safety concerns, noise and odour impact from the A1 and a nearby maggot farm, a lack of footpath to the village and they doubted the traveller status of the applicant and the need for traveller pitches.

Consultation with the community raised five letters of objection, which featured concerns with visual impact, highway safety, the development may grow, impact on ecology and the site already being occupied with fencing already erected.

However, the report said the proposed site provided acceptable living for its residents and would not cause traffic congestion or safety problems. It was also close to shops, schools and health facilities and not identified to be at risk of flooding. There would also be no unacceptable adverse impact on neighbours, including the maggot farm, to its south, or on the nearby surroundings.

The report concluded a temporary three-year approval continued would not harm the character of the area or the amenity of neighbours.

"Although insufficient information has been submitted to make a full assessment of the appropriateness of the living conditions on the site in respect of noise impact from the A1 and odour impact from the adjacent maggot farm, this needs to be considered against the observations from the site visits and the location of other existing properties in the village.

"Further, consideration needs to be given to the fact the Council is unable to demonstrate a sufficient supply of traveller pitches and that the alternative living arrangements for the applicant would involve living roadside. Accordingly, it is considered appropriate that any permission should be temporary and personal to the applicant, until the living conditions of the site, including noise and odour impacts, have been fully assessed," it added.