Four gypsy caravan pitches could be created near a north Herefordshire village.

An application by Richard Florence of Shrewsbury seeks permission for the four north of Orleton, “to meet a recognised need for such facilities in the area to accommodate a gypsy lifestyle”.

The site of just under an acre lies west of Orchard Farm off the B4362 between the hamlets of Portway and Comberton, where a mature orchard and hedgerow would screen it from the road.

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There would be one mobile home and one touring caravan per pitch, as well as a timber-built utility and day room, and new road access onto the B4362.

Herefordshire Council’s own assessment acknowledges a shortage of gypsy and traveller sites in the county, Mr Florence’s application says.

And with three caravan and park home sites within a mile, caravans “already form part of the character of the area” , it adds.

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Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

Comments on the planning application, numbered 233282, can be made until December 30.

Recently published figures show that Herefordshire has 60 socially rented and 67 private travellers’ and gypsy caravans with a further 21 “tolerated” on travellers’ own land, giving a total for the county of 148.

Nationally, the number of travellers’ caravans has grown from around 9,000 four decades ago to around 25,000 now, 86 per cent of which are on approved sites.

However a new privately funded traveller’s pitch in Shropshire was one of only 10 created in England in the year to July, the official data shows.