Furious locals have objected to controversial plans for a traveller pitch on land that was used as an orphanage during World War Two. 

John and Cindy Ayres have applied to put a mobile home on the historic site near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire – despite their plans being rejected once before. 

Villagers have branded the proposals ‘unsuitable’, ‘inappropriate’ and raised concerns about the site’s ‘proximity to a local nursery and playing fields’. 

The area in Sonning Common is part of a former Second World War camp, and is also located in an area of outstanding natural beauty. 

More than 300 orphans were moved to the site from a London orphanage during the Blitz, with two deteriorating buildings still remaining.

Mr and Ms Ayres applied to build two traveller pitches on the land next to Bishopswood recreation ground in 2022, but this was rejected on appeal in January last year. 

However, their second bid comes as new planning policy announced by Angela Rayner will force councils to release green belt land to travellers if there is an ‘unmet need’ for pitches. 

At present neither temporary or permanent travellers’ sites are allowed on green belt land as they fail to qualify as ‘very special circumstances’ – but that is about to change.

A consultation, published in December, stated that proposals should no longer be considered as inappropriate if there is an ‘unmet need for the type of development’. 

Mr and Ms Ayres have made clear in their application to South Oxfordshire District Council their plans address a shortage of traveller sites in the county. 

There are currently only ten traveller sites in south Oxfordshire – a shortfall of 34 pitches, the Henley Standard has reported. 

However more than 20 locals have already objected to the ‘inappropriate’ plans in Sonning Common, which are also located close to a public footpath. 

David Phillips wrote on the public planning portal: ‘I raise an objection to the application on several grounds. 

‘The application has been rejected twice previously and also on appeal. Nothing has changed. The proposal is out of settlement and inappropriate given adjacency to nursery school and playing fields.

‘The development would hinder the free usage of the public right of way running through the site.’

Local Jonathon Edney added: ‘The heavy toll the proposed development will have on both the children’s nursery and the nearby playing fields is in my opinion too heavy a cost to bear.

‘The physical and mental health benefits of exercise are well documented, as is the way that open playing space for our young people’s recreational pursuits has been eroded in recent years. 

‘I would therefore urge you not to put the wellbeing of our local youngsters at risk by approving this application.’

Little Beeches Nursery which is located close to the development site also objected to the plans. 

The owners raised concerns about the impact on the ‘character of the landscape’, the effect on ‘biodiversity’ and the effect on trees in the area. 

However, Mr and Ms Ayres said the traveller site will not ‘negatively impact’ the site and added that it would be ‘sensitively designed’. 

They are also proposing to enclose the pitch with native hedgerows and reinforce the existing boundary shrubs. 

It comes as a traveller was told in September last year he could continue living in a mobile home in a field in nearby Goring-on-Thames, despite the objections of dozens of residents and the local council.

Nelson Rogers, 37, successfully appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after he installed, without planning permission, a static caravan and septic tank on land opposite the village cemetery in September 2022.

Two months later, South Oxfordshire District Council issued him an enforcement notice demanding the work be undone within four months.

However, Mr Rogers, appealed, resulting in an inquiry that was heard by planning inspector Thomas Shields in April last year.

He argued that he should be granted permission for the mobile home as the district council did not have a five-year supply of traveller pitches.

The appeal was granted, despite concerns being raised by dozens of local residents that the development was situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

One local wrote on the public planning portal: ‘The adjacent burial ground is a place for quiet reflection and grieving when needed and any building would disrupt this.

‘There should be no change of use and no development on this site and the mobile home which is currently there should be removed.’

Another added: ‘This is one of the very few areas of outstanding beauty which we must preserve for future generations to experience the peace, tranquility and solemnity, and to escape the pressures of our ever increasing hectic lives.

‘The noise created by such a development – with a loud generator running day and night – would be disturbing and intimidating to people at their most vulnerable time and during funerals taking place.’