NEIGHBOURS of a disputed gypsy site in Shenleybury have appealed to a planning inspector to reject the bid to stay on the land.

Mark Blundell, chairman of the Action Group for a Safer Shenley, led the calls for the inspector, who is overseeing an appeal into land adjacent to Shenleybury Cottages, to rule in their favour.

He said the arrival in December 2009 of Sarah Price, who has parked a caravan along with a generator and portable toilets, has disrupted the “peaceful, rural backwater” in which they live.

He said: “Since the arrival of the appellants, we have had dogs roaming the streets, barking at all hours of the day and night; young children riding around the streets on quad bikes, not only posing a danger to themselves but to residents – both physical and by the noise made.”

Mr Blundell laid out to today’s hearing a litany of complaints from neighbours, including the noise from the generator, the destruction of wildlife on the land, and the way in which Ms Price occupied the site without getting planning permission.

He added: “I think it is wrong that they make the assumption they should be allowed to stay, that’s not how we do things in this country.”

Anit Patel, who lives next to the land, told the inquiry: “This has had a serious impact on our lives, we can’t enjoy our garden, we don’t go into our garden at all in the summer time.

"We hardly go out because there are disturbances there. We used to have visitors at our place, they would walk around and enjoy the nature but now they don’t.”

Ms Price's appeal came after Hertsmere Borough Council dismissed two applications last year for retrospective planning permission on the land she bought for £56,000 two years ago.

Her counsel Alan Masters has argued the land is appropriate for a gypsy site, and that although it is designated green belt, it was developed previously with a series of lock-up garages.

The residents spoke today to give the inspector an impression of how they believe the occupation of the site is unlawful and has disrupted their lives.

The inspector, Claire Sherratt, is due to visit the disputed land tomorrow, including seeing the views from neighbouring homes, before returning for another day of hearings at the council offices in Elstree Way.