A GRANDFATHER who accused the council of bias against the travelling community has won an appeal for a private gipsy site.

Geoff Watson applied to Darlington Borough Council to use land at Oakwood Farm, Hurworth, as a site to accommodate his extended family.

He already had permission for members of his family to live on the site, but the council refused permission in March 2002 for four families to live on the land, off Roundhill Road.

The council said the site would encroach on the countryside and did not have adequate access to local services or basic facilities, and it served notice on Mr Watson in September last year for breach of planning control.

Following an appeal by Mr Watson, the planning inspectorate found in his favour and decided to grant conditional planning permission.

The inspector, working for the Secretary of State, said if the plans did not get the go-ahead, Mr Watson and his family would have to live by the side of the road.

He found that the family were unable to find accommodation at the other travellers' sites, in Honeypot Lane and Neasham Road, in Darlington, something that had been disputed by the council.

In his report, the inspector said: "If planning permission is withheld, the prospect is one of camping on a succession of laybys.

"This would have a harmful effect on family life and on the schooling of the three children."

The appeal comes after an 18-month battle by Mr Watson, whose wife, Vera, owns the land, to house his grown-up daughters and his grandchildren.

Part of Mr Watson's argument against the council was that it is "predominantly biased against any further gipsy site provision in the area".

He said the council's local plan did not conform to Government advice that authorities should identify land suitable for gipsy sites.

The council defended its decision. A spokesman said: "We take our responsibilities to the travelling community seriously and already have two well-established sites in the borough."

The planning inspectorate went against the council's decision and found that there was convenient access to public transport, as well as facilities such as a doctor and dentist.