A LANDOWNER is threatening to sell his orchard to travellers after losing a planning battle over a caravan.

Ian Beesley, who famously dug up a road hump outside his home in 2002, said he was considering selling the land at Swinford, near Eynsham.

The 50-year-old, who has been ordered to shift a mobile home and shipping container off the site, said: “It’s not of any use to me. There is no point in keeping it.

“I think I will sell it to gypsies, that will keep the council really happy.”

Mr Beesley said council bosses “can have some fun and games” with travellers, adding: “The council can take the gypsies to court.”

A member of the travelling community had contacted him about buying the Oxford Road site, by Swinford Toll Bridge, he said.

Council bosses last night said such a move could result in more action – while a Gypsy Council spokesman said travellers would not act outside the law.

Vale of White Horse District Council took action against Mr Beesley keeping items on the site.

It said the Oxford Road land, near Swinford Toll Bridge, was only for agricultural use and issued an enf-orcement notice last July demanding that the items be removed.

Mr Beesley appealed to the independent Planning Inspectorate but inspector Antony Fussey this month branded the site “inappropriate” for the Green Belt and backed the council.

Gypsy Council secretary Joseph Jones said travellers who bought the site would abide by planning rules.

He said: “If you want to have a site of any kind, whether it is for gypsies or a supermarket or playing fields, you have to have permission from the council.

“There is no getting around that, whoever you are. You can’t circumvent the planning system.”

But he said: “If he wanted to sell it to the gypsy and traveller community at a reduced rate we would only be too happy to buy it off him.”

Cllr Roger Cox, Vale cabinet member for planning, said: “Given the appeal decision and the fact the site lies in the green belt, it is unlikely that planning permission would be granted.

“If any other unauthorised use was carried out on the site we would again consider taking appropriate enforcement action.”

Mr Beesley, a former landlord of Osney Island’s Walter Mitty’s pub – now called The HollyBush – said he had no regrets over taking out the road hump near his home.

A smaller replacement speed hump was installed by the council.

He said: “It’s a lot better now. I couldn’t get to sleep before.”