Decision on Gypsy sites to be made soon - County Durham

From the Northern Echo

DECISIONS about potential sites for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Darlington will be made as soon as possible, councillors have pledged.

After a huge response from residents during a consultation process about six potential sites around the town, members of Darlington Borough Council said they recognised that the issue was an emotive subject and agreed to speed up the process of making a decision about where extra places can be found.

At a meeting of the full council, Councillor Chris McKeown, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, announced that a feasibility study into likely sites will be carried out by officers next month (June) before a decision on proposed sites is made by the cabinet in July ahead of a more detailed consultation.

Coun McKeown said: “We will look carefully at the 300 responses that we have had to the consultation. A number of responses suggested sites that we had not considered and six landowners came forward to offer their land for our use.

“I will be working with officers to try and substantially speed up the timetable to conclude this issue.

“We are hoping we will be able to focus on extending the two existing sites and a small number of other sites that can be supported.”

Coun McKeown’s comments were largely welcomed by councillors of all three political groups, many of whom said they had been overwhelmed by the response from residents.

Councillor Heather Scott, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I’m pleased that we will be looking at extending the two existing sites.

“Both sites are very well controlled by the traveller community and that’s the benefit that they have. That is why this is a better solution than finding other sites in the town.”

However, Councillor Fred Lawton, a Lib Dem, raised concerns about the suitability of extending the existing Honey Pot Lane site.

He said: “The site is one of the largest in the country and these proposals would make it even bigger. I think we should consider the possible dangers of extending this site. I think it is big enough and we should look elsewhere to satisfy the needs of the Gypsy community.”