Plans for a gipsy site at Hersden have been thrown out by Canterbury City Council on the grounds there was a “substantial shortfall” of critical information in the application.

The scheme for up to 100 caravans in the countryside overlooking the Stour at Hoplands Farm has prompted a huge protest from the village and surrounding community.

Ward councillor Carolyn Parry, who has been representing villagers’ view, says planning officers wrote to the Gypsy Council for the South East to say crucial supporting information was missing.

She said: “In particular, officers had questions about the access and the sensitivity of the site and were concerned the application was premature until recommendations on gipsy site provision had been concluded in the South East Regional Plan.”

Cllr Parry says that the Gypsy Council, which made the application, did not respond to a request for more information and it would now be up to their representatives to decide whether to submit a completely fresh application.

But Joe Jones (pictured) of the Gypsy Council, who lives at Fordwich, accused the council of 'playing politics” with the application.

He said: “We sent them all the relevant information and I haven’t received anything asking for more.

“I suspect this is all about waiting to see what the Tories will do if they get into power.

“The need for more gipsy site provision is already established in the South East Regional Plan, but what have Canterbury City council done about it since the Vauxhall Road site opened 30 years ago? Nothing.

“But we won’t give up and if we have to submit a fresh application, so be it.”