GIPSIES have been given the benefit of the doubt by planning officers who are allowing their proposals for a traveller site to go forward to a planning hearing — despite saying they did not receive the paperwork on time.

Mid Devon District Council has infuriated opponents of the development of land at Pleasant Streams, between Uffculme and Willand, by accepting a representation made by Anthony and Ivy Hooke.

The Hookes' lawyers filed the application on February 9, nearly three months after a consultation period ended, but say it was originally faxed and sent by post on November 5 — before the November 17 deadline.

The plans will now be considered as objections to the Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document (DPD), a blueprint for development in the district until 2026.

The DPD will be considered by planning inspectors next month.

David Stewart, of Selgars Lane, near the site, is one of many opponents to the plans.

He said there was an outside chance inspectors could support the suggestions for a gipsy site of 5-10 pitches, and allocate the land as suitable for the development.

"If necessary we are prepared to take legal action to try and prevent these documents being considered," he said. "It is hard to accept the council could have mislaid a letter and a fax and, if so, alarm bells should have rung when no acknowledgment letter was received by the law firm.

"I also can't believe the council would accept a representation out of time from any other developer on the basis they claimed to have sent it within the required timeframe."

Last year, Mr and Mrs Hooke submitted two planning applications for a 12-pitch gipsy and traveller site. One was withdrawn and the other refused, each application attracting around 50 objections.

The council denies it lost the November 5 letter and fax.

Simon Thornley, senior forward planning officer for the council, said: "The council considers that it has sufficient evidence to support the contention that a representation was made in time to be considered, but not received.

"It also considers that it has acted entirely reasonably and does not consider that any delay in the hearings is appropriate or likely."

Despite efforts to contact the Hookes and South West Law, neither were available for comment.