A HEARING on a controversial gipsy site near Malvern had to be adjourned after a row between one of the gipsies and a local resident.

Angry words flew at Powick Parish Hall on Tuesday afternoon as the planning appeal hearing was discussing the impact on the village of Bastonford, where the site is located.

The hearing was called after Edward Smith appealed against a decision by Malvern Hills District Council in October to refuse planning permission for the site.

He is also appealing against a council eviction notice forcing them to quit the site.

Planning inspector Victor Ammoun called a 10-minute adjournment after a villager and one of the applicants’ party exchanged a series of heated accusations.

After reconvening the meeting he urged all present to remain calm. The villager apologised and the gipsy woman had left the hall.

Vicky Bilton, of MHDC, said the council’s concern was about the impact of the site on views towards the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Resident Maureen North said the replacement of a hawthorn and bramble hedge by a large wrought-iron gate had made the site more visible.

Mr Ammoun also heard evidence from villagers about the dangers of the A449/Old Malvern Road/Sparrowhall Lane junction, near where the site is located.

Resident Michael Pearman said one of the hazards is that people trying to turn from Old Malvern Road or Sparrowhall Lane into the main road across the flow of traffic find themselves stuck in the middle of the road.

He said: “It’s the most dangerous manoeuvre you can imagine.”

But Brian Woods, for the applicants, queried this, saying that Worcestershire Council had offered to build a roundabout but withdrawn the idea after residents objected.

As part of the day’s proceedings, both sides went out to measure visibility splays because the figures supplied by each side disagreed.

The appeal hearing will continue on Tuesday, February 7.