A WAR of words has broken out over controversial plans to house a gypsy family in East Brent.

Opponents yesterday (Tuesday) branded an application to site a mobile home, touring caravan and day room on land south of Burton Road as 'unacceptable' while the gypsy couple insist they have the right to live where they want and should be treated like anybody else.

Passions ran high as Sedgemoor District Council's planning committee met yesterday to decide on the application submitted by a Mr and Mrs Isaacs.

The couple already live on the site and want permission to stay there so they can support Mr Isaacs' seriously ill father and be close to Musgrove Park Hospital as Mrs Isaacs is pregnant.

Villagers in East Brent have penned 36 letters in protest to the scheme while four have been sent in support.

Objectors claim approving the plans would set a 'precedent' for more gypsy families to move into the area and the family should be accommodated on a gypsy site in nearby Rooksbridge.

There are also fears of an increased risk of accidents on the road because the site is located on a 'dangerous bend'.

East Brent parish councillor Derek Parry said: “If this application is passed it will be a green light for others already known to be waiting to move into the area.”

Chairman of the Romany Gypsy Advisory Group Sally Woodbury spoke on behalf of the couple and urged councillors to ignore 'the same old reasons' for objecting.

She said: “You need to stand up to bigots - if people stood up to Hitler, the atrocities would never have happened.”

A final decision will be made in August after councillors have carried out a site visit.

STOP PRESS: PERMISSION was granted to build 48 new homes and a park on land at Rosewood Farm on Ben Travers Way in Burnham at yesterday's meeting.

The development has previously been delayed on safety grounds as the land is located on a former landfill site, but councillors heard a suitable solution had been found.

Developer Bloor Homes will make a financial contribution to road costs as part of the planning agreement and says work will get underway 'as soon as possible'.