Barlow Drive Gypsy Traveller site work to begin this summer - Cheshire

From the Winsford Guardian

WORK on Winsford’s new Gypsy and Traveller site on Barlow Drive will begin in summer - with a price tag for the borough council of £2.7 million.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) acknowledge that the figure is liable to rise, and want to access Traveller Pitch Funding from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency to help pay for it.

In a report due to be discussed by councillors tonight, Charlie Seward, director of regeneration and culture reports that a lack of Traveller sites has resulted in developments in Green Belt land, which have subsequently been granted planning permission.

This ‘has led to tensions with neighbouring settled communities, who often feel that different planning rules are applied’ to Gypsy sites, he says.

But despite CWAC citing a need to create up to 55 Traveller pitches before 2016, the authority didn’t receive any grants on the two recent occasions funding was available – and now there’s no immediate HCA money left to apply for.

Swanlow and Dene clr Stephen Burns said he ‘had concerns’ about the original assessment.

“I appreciate officers have worked hard on this but I feel there should have been wider consultation with Travellers and communities which may have lessened the concerns of both groups and resolved any concerns regarding the green belt,” he added.

CWAC hope to enter a three-way agreement with the HCA and the Plus Dane social housing group, whom a council report states will provide £1.6 million towards the 18 pitches on Barlow Drive.

That would still leave the council with a minimum £1.1 million spend on the site, before taking into account any cost of ongoing management of the pitches.

CWAC has announced ‘discussions are underway’ with neighbouring authorities to set up a ‘sub regional service for Gypsies and Travellers’ across Cheshire and Warrington, which may include organising site management of Traveller pitches.

However, these talks could take up to 18 months to conclude, and CWAC is recommending that it takes on responsibility of management of Barlow Road in the meantime.

CWAC’s Gypsy site plans CWAC forecast a shortage of Gypsy and Traveller pitches six years ago.

The Cheshire Partnership Area Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation (GTAA), published in January 2007, cited a need for between 31-45 permanent pitches and 10 transit pitches.

To date, no new public provision towards this need has been made and there are no publicly provided Gypsy and Traveller sites in the borough.

27 pitches on eight green belt sites in the borough have been granted temporary planning permission, but because these are temporary permissions, they don’t count towards the 45 demanded by the GTAA