The expansion of a gypsy and traveller site on the outskirts of Canterbury has been approved.

Councillors voted by a margin of nine to six to grant permission to increase the number of pitches at Brotherhood Wood, off the A2 near Dunkirk, at a meeting of Swale Borough Council's planning committee on tonight.

The number of pitches will rise from 29 to 40 and the total number of caravans permitted will jump from 42 to 87, making the site one of England's largest.

A raft of objections were raised at tonight's meeting, many referencing allegations supported by police and Swale Borough Council that the site is already over-occupied and many of its residents are not travellers or gypsies, but migrant workers who are not permitted to live there.

The council maintains that it is investigating and taking enforcement action against these claims.

Speaking at the meeting, council leader Andrew Bowles (Con), said: “I do not see any reason why this should be approved. The first application was in 2007. In that time, as an authority, we have totally failed to impose any conditions that members have imposed.

“We have an application here in front of us which is quite clearly opposed by the local community.

“It really does not meet our planning policy. And it does not meet the needs of the traveller community.”

Concerns were also raised that a larger number of pitches at Brotherhood Yard could be used as grounds to refuse permission for gypsy and traveller sites in other locations, despite the site being unsuitable for people with a nomadic way of life.

The decision was made after being put to the planning committee for a second time, after council officers took the rare step of calling in a vote to reject the application in March.

They argued that refusing the application without "sound planning reasons" could leave the council open to an expensive appeal process.

The applicants have categorically denied that any breaches have taken place, saying the expansion would help fulfil the council’s requirements for gypsy and traveller sites and prevent illegal encampments from springing up elsewhere.

They also say a three-day survey was held at the site by the National Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Council last month and found that all of Brotherhood Wood’s occupants were gypsies or travellers.

Speaking in favour of the application, Phillip Brown said there were currently 22 gypsy and traveller families living in temporary or unauthorised sites in this district.

“Clearly there is a need for this site and the number of pitches now proposed. There are no other alternative sites where they could go."