Complaints rush in to campaigners over Traveller plans - Dorset

COUNTRYSIDE campaigners warned that they have been flooded with complaints about the county’s proposed Gypsy and Traveller plan.

Dorset’s Campaign to Protection Rural England (CPRE) group said that the response has been one of the strongest it has seen so far.

Branch chairman Richard Nicholls said: “We have seldom had such a large response to an issue, it really has been astounding.”

CPRE asked for views from the public before compiling its response to the consultation exercise.

All of the responses have been negative with some claiming that they were worried to take part in the debate openly because of fears that they will be seen to be considered racist.

CPRE say that many of the responses concentrate on the effect any building would have on areas which are currently open countryside, irrespective of whether the sites are ear-marked for Gypsies and Travellers, or anyone else.

CPRE director Trevor Bevins said: “It is the issue of building, unnecessarily, in open countryside, or outside the envelope of established communities, which also worries us."

Our initial fears about this and whether or not the necessary infrastructure, such as school places, public transport and medical facilities, might also be a deciding factor in looking at these sites.

“The organisation is urging everyone to look at the proposals via council websites or at libraries where copies of the consultation document are on display.”