A NEW Forest woman continued her long battle to live in her mobile home at a planning appeal hearing in Ringwood.

Jenny Birch, whose four-year-old son Jakey suffers from celebral palsy, started her fight with New Forest District Council's planning department in 1994 when she was refused permission for the mobile home on the field bequeathed to her by her mother.

In 1996 the council received a complaint she had moved a caravan onto the site and was living in it with her two daughters. Since then the council has taken enforcement action.

Miss Birch and her partner Jason Pearce grow vegetables and keep chickens, goats and pigs on the 1.8 hectare field.

Council planning officer Stephen Avery told planning inspector Bruce Barnett the council had tried to find alternative accommodation for Miss Birch and her family but two homes nominated in Fordingbridge were deemed unsuitable because of Jakey's disability.

He acknowledged there were no available properties in Godshill or Fordingbridge, where Miss Birch says she needs to live to cater for her son's needs.

Mr Avery said allowing her two mobile homes to stay could create a precedent for others to follow.

Mr Barnett carried out a site visit and will make a decision after considering all the evidence.

First published: October 17