Gypsies who offered to foot the bill for safety features at the Marlborough Road site in Wootton Bassett were refused planning permission to set up home in the town.

Planning officers told a meeting of the Northern Area Planning Committee, that the Glenville Nurseries site was not suitable for a gypsy camp because of the poor access along Scotland Road and the hazardous junction with Marlborough Road.

In an emotional speech, gypsy Maggie Smith said the families would do anything to sway the councillors’ decision. But they voted six to one against.

She said: “They have offered, out of their own pockets, to tarmac this lane and to have a roundabout put in, not just for their own safety, but for the local community.

“I have had 20 years’ experience of seeking land for gypsies – there is no such thing as a perfect piece of land, but this piece of land is as good as it gets.

“People have not taken time out to get to know the culture, traditions or needs of gypsies.”

She added: “Without an address, we cannot get any further than the doctor’s reception desk and we are directed straight to A & E. This causes deaths – we have the highest death rates in the country, especially among infants.

“This county needs these pitches, but these gypsies need them even more to get some kind of quality of life.”

The application had been deferred at a meeting on July 1 so planning officers and environmental consultants could assess the sites after concerns about great crested newts in the area.

No newts were found, but the plans were recommended refusal based on highway safety.

David Graham, who lives next to the site, said the road, which has seen two accidents since July 1, was too dangerous for main access to the site.

He said: “Visibility should be more than 200 metres to the south which is unachievable because of the bend in the road. It is used as a rat run to Devizes and Marlborough and drivers use excessive speed.”

Wootton Bassett town councillor Owen Gibbs said he was aware that there should be more pitches made available but he did not support the plans. “It may not be a flood plain but we can categorically state the area is often flooded at times of heavy rainfall,” he said.

But case officer Tracy Smith said: “There is no evidence of flooding on this lane whatsoever. If flooding happens, it’s because of the damage caused by vehicles passing on the ditches.”