Traveller site plans set to be rejected - Bedfordshire

From the Times and Citizen

THREE separate applications to set up Gypsy and Traveller pitches in rural Bedfordshire are likely to be rejected next week.

Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee will meet on Monday, May 28.

Applications being considered include a scheme for siting four mobile homes and four touring caravans in Roxton, three mobile homes and three touring vans in Stevington, and four caravans pitches with two amenity blocks in Bletsoe. Councillors are advised to reject all three applications.

The Bletsoe site, in Rushden Road, has been objected to by Bletsoe Parish Council, Sharnbrook Parish Council, and Bletsoe Residents Association. There have also been 574 letters of objection.

The councils claim that there is no local need for the site, that there are too few schools, shops and community facilities within reasonable distance of the site, and that the current facilities have not been fully occupied over the last three years.

In Stevington the application is for Dane Hill Farm. Six parish councils have objected to this scheme, along with Stevington Residents Association, the Council Protection For Rural England (CPRE) and Natural England. There have been 221 letters of objection, plus objections from councillors Pat Olney and Jon Gambold.

They have raised a number of planning issues, including light pollution, parking issues near the village and the size of vans, the countryside location, and the claim that there is no demonstrated need or history of Travellers in the village.

The Roxton application is for an area of land north of 51 and 53 Bedford Road. 270 objection letters and emails have been received by the council.

Council officers claim that there is already planning permission for 18 Traveller pitches to be set up over the next five years, which will be “more than sufficient to meet the need”.