Councillor warns of a 'rural riot' if Gypsy site gets the thumbs down

From Bedfordshire on Sunday

Rejecting Meadow Lane as a Gypsy and Traveller site could spark a ‘rural riot’ a councillor has warned.

Bedford Borough councillor Alison Field-Foster said such a decision will cause anger in the rural community if a planning committee turns down plans.

Cllr Field-Foster said: “If it’s not passed it puts pressure on villages where applications for Gypsy sites have gone in and it would put the council in a very difficult position. “There will be a lot of anger towards the current administration at the council and it could be the start of a rural riot.” The plans go before committee at Bedford Corn Exchange on March 26 with hundreds from the northern reaches of the borough expected to attend.

If the Meadow Lane site in Cardington is rejected there are fears applications for gypsy sites in Bletsoe, Felmersham, Roxton, Stagsden and Stevington will get the go-ahead to fill the Traveller pitch void.

Last year the council scrapped plans for the development claiming noise and odour problems wouldn’t have made the site viable according to an officer report.

But in December the findings were contradicted and a £28k U-turn was performed with a re-submission.