Plans for 'authorised' Gypsy and Traveller sites in Ellesmere Port - Cheshire

From the Wirral Glode

PLANS to tackle the problem of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites across West Cheshire go before council chiefs next week.

Councillors will be asked to approve authorised sites in Winsford and Ellesmere Port when they meet next Wednesday, May 1.

Full planning permission has been granted for 18 pitches with utility blocks and a warden’s office at Barlow Drive, Winsford – a £2.07m development, with £1.62m coming from the Homes and Communities Agency.

In Ellesmere Port, outline planning approval has been granted for a £1.44m development of 12 pitches with utility blocks and a warden’s office- also expected to attract HCA funding.

If the developments are approved, work could begin on the Winsford site in Summer. The Ellesmere Port planning application is due for determination in July.

Cheshire Partnership Area Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation and Related Services Assessment (GTAA), 2007, identifies the need for between 31 and 45 residential Gypsy and Travellers pitches and 10 transit pitches between 2006 and 2016 in the Borough.

In his report to next week's meeting, Charlie Seward, the council's director of growth and prosperity said: "The shortage of Gypsy and Traveller sites has led to issues such as unauthorised developments in the Green Belt and unauthorised encampments on both private and Council owned land.

"In the case of unauthorised developments – where permanent sites are developed and planning permission sought retrospectively – the shortage of provision has resulted in a number of sites being granted temporary planning permissions, sometimes at appeal.”

He added: "The lack of alternative provision has been sufficient to establish the 'very special circumstances' needed to justify 'inappropriate' development in the Green Belt.

Mr Seward's report continued: "This has led to tensions with neighbouring settled communities, who often feel that different planning rules are applied to such developments.

"As temporary permissions, these pitches do not count towards meeting the need identified in the GTAA."