Special meeting over plans for Gypsy camps - Bristol

From The Post

TORY councillors in Bath and North East Somerset have called for a special council meeting to discuss plans to create up to six official Gypsy camps in the area.

One of the possible sites is on a parcel of land near Ellsbridge House in Keynsham.

Other sites include:

● Woollard Lane, Parcel 7100, Whitchurch;

● Old Colliery Buildings, Stanton Wick;

● Lower Bristol Road, Twerton;

● Former Radstock Infant School canteen;

● Station Road, Newbridge – as a Travelling Showman's Yard

B&NES council wants to set up permanent sites to make it easier to evict Gypsies and Travellers from illegal camps.

They have begun a consultation exercise to find out people's views but the issue has already sparked an outcry in some villages.

Tory councillors believe the issue is too important to be left to the council's ruling Lib Dem cabinet to make any decisions.

Tory leader Frances Haeberling said they support the need to find suitable Gypsy sites – but not if they are entirely inappropriate.

She said: "The site at Stanton Wick is within the greenbelt with no access to any necessary amenities, while the Keynsham site is currently established woodland on the busy A4 with serious highway access issues.

"In addition, the Radstock site has also been proposed as a potential site for new affordable housing, which many people in the area deem a more effective use of the site."

The council has organised five drop-in sessions where people can find out more about the proposals and give their views. They are being held from 3pm to 7pm at:

● Radstock: Methodist Church Hall, Wednesday, June 6;

● Stanton Drew: Parish Hall, Thursday, June 7;

● Bath: The Brunswick Room, Guildhall, Wednesday, June 13;

● Pensford: Pensford Memorial Hall, Publow Lane, Monday, June 18;

● Keynsham: The Fear Hall, Tuesday, June 19.

Further information, including a comment form can be found on the council's website www.bathnes.gov. uk/planningfortravellers.

The consultation closes on 18th July 2012.