'Democracy is dead' cry community over Gypsy and Traveller site - Winsford

INCENSED Winsford residents have signalled the ‘death of democracy’ after controversial plans for a Gypsy and Traveller site were given the go-ahead.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee voted in favour of the plans, which include 20 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches on land off Barlow Drive, during a meeting at Wyvern House on Thursday.

The application has proved controversial from the start with residents becoming increasingly frustrated over what they believe to be a lack of public consultation.

But the tipping point came on Thursday when only one member of the public was allowed to speak during the council meeting, despite numerous requests from others who had registered their interest.

Former councillor Charlie Parkinson said: “I made a written application to have my say and was turned down. It is a disgrace.

“This council say they want to consult with people yet they won’t allow it.”

Residents were further annoyed when the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Mike Jones, was granted his say on why the site should be approved before members were asked to cast their vote.

In a letter to the Guardian, Clr Stephen Burns said: “Many members of the public wanted the chance to speak but the committee chairman would not permit them to do so.

“It was unusual for Mike Jones to appear at the meeting and he spoke longer than most, certainly longer than any member of the public was allowed.

“When will this Conservative-led council admit that they are one of the most undemocratic councils in the country and hopefully they will one day pay for gagging the very people who should have the greatest say in what happens in their own town?”

Commenting on our website, silentmajority1, said: “At the meeting it was clear Cheshire West were going to push this through without consultation with residents in Winsford.

“All those that voted for the plan were from councils as far as Ellesmere Port.”

A spokesman for CWAC said: “Four people requested to speak at the strategic planning committee and in accordance with planning public speaking protocol, as there was more than one request, they were asked to nominate a spokesman to address the committee.”