Two possible Gypsy sites ‘unworkable’ - Newport council officers

From the South Wales Argus

TWO sites proposed for Gypsies and Travellers are unworkable, according to Newport council officers.

A team of councillors had proposed Brickyard Lane, Allt-yr-Yn, be allocated in the local development plan (LDP) as a contingency residential site, and a yard near the A449 as a transit site.

But officers say road safety worries, and the fact the Welsh Government will not allow slip roads off the A449 to be used, mean neither should be included.

However a financial question mark has also been placed over the group's recommendation for the Hartridge Farm Road site to be used as residential site.

The community planning and development committee is now set to meet on April 24 to discuss the site assessments from council officers, who have proposed five options members could take.

Cabinet has asked the committee to look at officers assessments of 11 sites that were subject to a consultation by the committee last year.

A report to the scrutiny committee said the proposed Brickyard Lane site is unsuitable on highway safety grounds and should not be included.

It said the proposed A449 depot was considered unsuitable due to the Welsh Government's confirmation it will not allow use of slip-roads near the site off the A449.

Officers wrote that the Road Safety Centre site at Hartridge Farm Road is the only site capable of accommodating two families that are currently residing on unauthorised sites.

However it says there could be a potential "substantial" loss if the land, which is owned by Newport council, is not sold.

The report warns that if a council-owned site is selected there would be no funding to cover the loss. Grants may be available if the council was to purchase land.

Emma Corten, Labour city councillor for Ringland which covers the Hartridge Farm site, said: "I fully appreciate the need to find a suitable site to house our Gypsy and Traveller residents within the city, however, with our budgets as stretched as they are, it would seem like madness to allocate this piece of land for that purpose.

"The revenue receipt that this land is capable of realising is intended to contribute towards paying off the borrowings used to build Llanwern High School."

David Fouweather, Tory councillor for Allt-yr-Yn, said councillors are delighted that the "council has seen sense" over Brickyard Lane and said it was a victory for local residents who campaigned against it.