Campaigners are celebrating after gypsies lost their fight to retain an illegal camp on green belt land in Meriden.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, upheld a planning inspector’s decision that the camp must go.

Protesters hailed the decision “a victory” but urged Solihull Council not to let Meriden become the next Dale Farm.

They called on them to restore the site to green belt quickly.

Solihull council was unable to say how long the legal process would take. Leader Ken Meeson asked the public to show ‘‘patience and understanding as we now move forward.”

Campaigners celebrated the victory with a toast of tea as the 24-hour-vigil passed through day 542.

Some of the 200 people who have taken part in the vigil on a rota basis converged on the protest camp in Eaves Green Lane.

There were hugs, cheers and even flag waving as news filtered through.

A public inquiry was held earlier this year after the gypsies appealed against Solihull Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for eight pitches, eight mobile homes and eight touring caravans.

Planning Inspector Philip Ware recommended that their appeal be dismissed and planning permission be refused, Mr Pickles yesterday upheld that decision.

He also refused permission for the gypsies to stay at the site temporarily, saying “he considers that the harm is too great”.

In his report he said that “as a result of the development already carried out, there has been a serious loss of openness in the Green Belt which would be exacerbated if other elements of the proposal were undertaken”.

He added: “Highway safety is a significant factor, as is the harm to protected trees and to the potential habitat of a protected species.

“The accessibility of the site is a further factor which carries some weight against the appeal, as is the limited likelihood of peaceful and integrated co-existence.”

The report said the Secretary of State gave “some weight” to the immediate need for traveller sites in the district, the lack of a suitable alternative site, general health needs and continuity of education for the gypsies.’’

But it added: “He is not satisfied that the considerations which he has weighed in the scheme’s favour outweigh the harm he has identified.

"He does not consider that very special circumstances to justify the inappropriate development in the Green Belt exist.”

Chairman of Meriden Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) David McGrath said: “The job isn’t finished yet, we are determined this will not be the next Dale Farm and drag on for months and years.

“The protest camp will stay until we see some enforcement action.

“The public inquiry showed this was never about hardship and the group must do the right thing and work with the council.