Community out in force against Traveller site on Leeds and Wakefield border

Worried residents have packed out community meetings in fear that a permanent Traveller camp just outside the Leeds boundary could go ahead.

Around 100 people from Carlton and Ouzlewell Green, which have Wakefield postcodes but come within the Leeds district, held separate talks at Carlton Cricket Club, in Town Street, on plans for a camp just over the border on Thursday.

The proposals would turn grazing land next to the M62 in Castle Gate, Stanley, Wakefield, into 10 pitches with hard-standing, landscaping and utility rooms.

But the landowner has branded some of the objections posted on Wakefield Council’s website as “a little bit racist”.

Nora Walton, treasurer of the Carlton Village Residents Association, said: “Parents who come to the school are really concerned about it, I know there’s good and bad but it is a little bit close.

“Nobody wants it on their doorstep so everybody’s going to fight against it.”

The site, which borders both Leeds’s Rothwell and Ardsley and Robin Hood wards, would be distanced from housing.

Coun Stewart Golton (Lib Dem, Rothwell) said: “They feel like this Traveller site is being forced on them due to their geography. I can’t say there was one voice raised in support of it.”

In 2009 there was an estimated shortfall of 86 Traveller pitches in West Yorkshire.

Leeds City Council, which is seeking a legal ban on unauthorised camps in Armley, has 41 of its own pitches and was given £1m by the government for 12 more.

Coun Jack Dunn (Lab, Ardsley and Robin Hood) said: “It’s the foot in the door for every bit of green space to be turned into a Traveller site.”

All six councillors from the two Leeds wards oppose the plans.

The landowner, who has English Romany Gypsy heritage and wishes to remain anonymous, said fly-tipping and safety objections to the site tar all Travellers with the same brush and that residents would pay council tax and look after the site.

She added: “Some of the comments are a little bit racist and it is quite upsetting as a Traveller that they have obviously labelled all Travellers the same.”

Comments can be posted on the plans until March 23. Visit planning.wakefield.gov.uk/online-applications and see application 12/00208/FUL to view them.