A GOVERNMENT inspector is to decide if land at Richards Castle should become a travellers' site.

The inspector, Gerry Hollington, heard claims at a public inquiry in Ludlow on Tuesday that occupants of the unauthorised Wheat Common Lane site could not be defined as travellers.

The inquiry is expected to last three days and will investigate South Shropshire District Council's refusal of planning permission for 12 months use by travellers of land at The Oakery, just over two miles south of Ludlow.

Jake Berriman, the council's head of planning and building control, told the inquiry he had recommended refusal of permission because there was not enough evidence to show the applicants "fall within the definition of traveller".

The appeal was lodged by Philip Massey and other unnamed persons. Mr Massey said he had lived on the site on a caravan with his son and did not like "bricks and mortar". He said: "I have been a traveller for many years" and presented the inquiry with a dossier detailing his life as an itinerant farm labourer until 2002.

A former Oakery resident, Dee Mason, said she preferred the lifestyle as she gained "employment and knowledge". Ms Mason, who has gained gardening qualifications, said her work as a self-employed gardener brought in income and "a lot of knowledge."

She said she had moved 17 times since June. If the appeal was dismissed, Ms Mason said, she would continue travelling with her two children. Asked by Mr Hollington why she did not want to live in a house, Ms Mason said: "I would feel confined, closed in."

Timothy Jones, counsel for South Shropshire Council, cited a definition from an official circular that gipsies or travellers meant "persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin" as well as people who for various reasons "have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently".

The council's development control committee unanimously turned down Mr Massey's application on March 28 but the site has been a planning issue since 1991.

In 2005, the council looked to identify additional provision for gipsies and travellers within the district.

There was detailed examination of two sites in Craven Arms, two in Ludlow and one at Woofferton but because of problems over highway access, residential amenity or impact on the landscape, none was pursued.

An assessment of the need for travellers' sites in the district is due to be published next month.

At the meeting in March 2007, Mr Berriman said three factors had to be taken into account when considering applications for a travellers' site. These were: the need for the site, whether it was suitable for development and the status of those wishing to live there.

Mr Berriman said none of the present occupants fell within the statutory definition of a traveller. He had recommended that the application should be refused because the applicants were not bona fide travellers and the proposal represented "inappropriate development in the countryside".

The inspector's decision is not likely until later in the year.