MP urges council to take action over Gypsy sites - Bedfordshire

An MP is the latest to pile pressure on a Mayor to find more suitable sites for the Gypsy and Travelling community.

Alistair Burt, who represents North Bedfordshire, says he has been contacted by constituents over Gypsies setting up unauthorised sites and then applying for planning permission.

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, has received criticism from rural parishes and the Gypsy community over a lack of pitches and this year the borough has seen an increase in illegitimate sites.

Mr Burt (pictured right) said: “We must all write to the council’s planning department and urge them to take strong action against these unsuitable encampments.

“I will also be speaking to colleagues in Government to ensure that the situation in Bedfordshire is highlighted and that steps are taken to protect our communities from unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites.” Last week a spokesman for the National Gypsy Council, Joseph Jones, said the borough council hadn’t done enough to provide pitches for travellers.

He added that councils are ‘too scared’ to make unpopular decisions.

Earlier this month the authority passed a proposal for permanent pitches at Meadow Lane and a additional space at Kempston Hardwick funded by a £1.2m Government grant.

A petition containing more than 100 signatures was handed to a council calling for an inquiry into a contradictory report into a Gypsy site.

Councillor Tom Wootton presented the document to Bedford Borough Council at Wednesday night’s meeting citing Mayor Hodgson’s ‘refusal’ to investigate discrepancies between the advice given by Spectrum Acoustics Consultants and a planners report submitted in July last year.

In total 126 signatures were on the petition claiming the noise expert’s conclusion was not considered by officers’ reports.

Cllr Wootton said: “Many are calling this a scandal, I am calling this a tragedy because it has been three years since this site was brought forward.

“A large number of people want answers from this village-bashing council.”