A GIPSY is hoping a planning inspector will back his case.

Thomas Berry and his family moved two caravans on to Green Belt land at the junction with Grass Road and the A5117 at Elton Green near Elton.

Chester City Council refused his planning application for the gipsy caravan site and issued an enforcement notice.

Mr Berry turned to First Secretary of State John Prescott and made appeals against both decisions.

Mr Prescott appointed inspector Karl Peter Moxon to decide the issue at a hearing at Chester Town Hall.

The city council argues Mr Berry made an unauthorised change of use of the land, which had previously been occupied by stables. It was being used both for stabling and as a gipsy caravan site.

This was inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The council said a gipsy caravan site must meet a proven need and should not be located in the Green Belt unless no alternative location was available.

At the hearing, the council brought in planning consultant Mark Cawood while Mr Berry was represented by Rugby based solicitor Philip Brown.

The inspector said the extent of the harm caused by the development would be a 'very important part' of his considerations.

He would also consider Mr Berry's personal needs for accommodation and whether these could be met elsewhere, his family circumstances and any very special circumstances.

Farmer Mr R H Martin of Grove Farm, Elton Green, who occupies adjoining land, appeared at the hearing to support Mr Berry.

He told the inquiry he had known the land for nearly 50 years and it had been used for rubbish dumping by local people.

This had ceased since Mr Berry had been living on the land.

'This is a very respectable family and Mr Berry is a gentleman. The land has been nothing but a tip for years and it is land that nobody else would want. No farmer would take it on,' said Mr Martin.

Senior planning officer Les Smith told the hearing there were no personal feelings on the part of the city council towards Mr Berry. The decisions were purely a planning matter.

The inspector heard arguments on detailed planning issues before closing the hearing and visiting the site.