A COUPLE whose farm is shortlisted as a potential gypsy site presented the council with a 2,000 signature petition.

Tim Barnes and his wife Leander Walton, of Manor Farm in Stourport, handed Wyre Forest District Council the list of names, along with another 140 from an online petition.

More than 600 people have joined facebook pages dedicated to saving the farm from becoming home to 15 pitches, or a plot for travelling showpeople.

The inclusion of Manor Farm on the council’s shortlist attracted widespread criticism as consultants Baker Associates labelled it a “redundant farm and land”.

In fact, Mr Barnes has lived at the farm for 55 years and employs six people in his equine and agricultural businesses, while Mrs Walton runs a neurological rehabilitation centre on site.

At Stourport’s consultation meeting Mr Barnes received massive applause when he said: “One of the things that upset us more at Manor Farm than anything else is that we have never been given our correct title...This is Manor Farm not ‘farm’, not ‘St John’s Farm’, not ‘redundant farm’ - this is Manor Farm.”

The couple have spent just under £5,000 on solicitors, planning consultants and ecological reports to back up their arguments. Mr Barnes said: “It’s just something we felt we had to do to reinforce our argument.”

On Friday, the final day of the council’s consultation on the siting of 43 pitches in Wyre Forest by 2022, the pair delivered the objections in person to council offices at Duke House, Kidderminster.

Mrs Walton said: “It just shows the depth of support and people’s passion for Manor Farm. It’s nice, it’s brought the whole area and town together.”

Mr Barnes said: “It’s good for a 20,000 population, it’s 10 per cent of the people. It’s positive everything that’s been done for us.”