A BUSINESSMAN proposing to open Harrow’s first camping spot has branded as ‘absolute rubbish’ suggestions it will be a travellers’ site.

Richard Gabriel, the majority shareholder in Harrow Community Sports, the firm that owns and runs Broadfields Country Club, in Headstone Lane, Harrow, said a leaflet delivered to homes to encourage opposition to his proposed scheme was simple scaremongering.

The Gloucestershire-based semi-retired businessman said: “It’s headed ‘Help Stop A Gypsy Site Coming Near You’ and it’s just absolute rubbish.

“The author hasn’t even had the decency to put their name on it because they know it’s lies.

“It wouldn’t be in our interest to open a gipsy site.

“The council, when considering the application, will need to bear in mind that the opposition is based on complete misinformation.”

Neighbours of the site have orchestrated an opposition campaign including an online petition against the plans, which have been submitted to Harrow Council.

Mr Gabriel said he would like to see a profit on his £3million investment over 20 years and that for three years the site had no income at all.

He said more than £30,000 worth of studies and analysis of Broadfields Country Club and three comparable camp sites in Denham, Crystal Palace and Oxford had foreseen no noise or traffic problems at all.

“None of this will have remotely anywhere near the impact that neighbours are suggesting and a camp site is desperately needed,” he said. “It will be useful for people to come to see concerts at Wembley Arena or events at Wembley Stadium and to visit London because we have fantastic transport links; cross the road and you’re at Headstone Lane Station. We will be creating half a dozen new jobs which, in this day and age, is very important.”

Mr Gabriel said, if approved, nobody would be able to stay at the site longer than 21 days and it will have its own rules based on The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan Club.

Georgia Weston, of Headstone Lane, who held a meeting to coordinate the opposition campaign, said: “We did not post any leaflets about a gypsy site or even mention the word.

“You can see that there is no mention of it on our petition either. “Whoever did this is on their own and not part of our campaign to save the playing fields.”

Mr Gabriel confirmed that the Mumbai Gardens restaurant leases and occupies the clubhouse, and will stay if the camp site is approved.

The deadline for comments on the application was Tuesday last week.