AN AREA of woodland on the edge of Attleborough could be turned into a private gipsy site after proposals were unveiled next to an existing encampment.

AN AREA of woodland on the edge of Attleborough could be turned into a private gipsy site after proposals were unveiled next to an existing encampment.

A planning application was submitted last week for a change of use to include six pitches, utility rooms and hard standings on land at Docking Wood, off Leys Lane.

The proposals, by Anthony Gaskin, on a 0.69ha piece of woodland fall next to another gipsy family, which has been in the area for 25 years.

Attleborough Town Council's planning committee is set to discuss the scheme next week and residents have until November 4 to air their views.

The plans, which were submitted to Breckland Council by Shropshire-based Green Planning Solutions, include a new access point off Leys Lane.

Agent Matthew Green said in a letter to the council: 'The applicant seeks permission to provide residential gipsy pitches with utility/day room buildings to meet a recognised need for such facilities in the area and to facilitate gipsy lifestyle.'

He added that the site was 1.5km away from Attleborough town centre and was bounded to the south by residential properties and by woodland and agricultural land on its other sides.

The area is next to an existing site owned by the Jones family, which was given planning permission for a bungalow in 1984 and approval later for two touring caravans and three static homes.

Breckland Council is currently seeking enforcement action for the unauthorised encroachment onto neighbouring land, which is being appealed by the gipsy family.