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Residents Rally Against Circus Showpeople Plans

Enborne Parish Council is urging residents to object to plans to house travelling show people from Zippos Circus on land at Long Copse Farm.

West Berkshire Council planning councillors will visit the site next Thursday ahead of the matter returning to committee.

Enborne challenged the decision at the High Court in July last year after West Berkshire approved policy RSA29, which designates Long Copse Farm as a Travelling Showpersons' yard. The High Court rejected the bid.

The expansion would add 20 plots, taking the site to 24. The parish council says a sudden population increase would overload rural infrastructure and local services.

Planners are likely to approve the bid at next week's western area planning.

The row has been running for over 12 years.

"It's my land to house my showmen. I own 50 acres in the Enborne Valley, the increase would take a little over 10 acres so it's a small proportion. I believe that residents are concerned that they will get other travellers other than showmen on my site. I would not offer accommodation to anyone other than circus folk - the planning consent, if it comes will be specific to circus showmen."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter

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