Future sites for Travellers? - Sussex

From the Bexhill On Sea Observer

PROPOSALS for an eight-week consultation, starting in September, over the establishment of 12 possible Gypsy and Traveller sites in Rother to meet future needs up to 2028 come before the district council’s scrutiny committee at Bexhill Town Hall on Monday next week, July 23.

The council must identify enough sites to meet accepted needs, and could have sites imposed upon it if it fails to do so. In Bexhill, two sites of two to three pitches each could be brought forward as part of any major development in the area.

Other locations shortlisted from an initial list of 850 potential sites include Beeches Brook and Loose Farm Lane, Battle; Cripps Corner; Bramble Farm, Ewhurst; Cherry Tree Nursery, Flimwell; Guestling Green highways depot; land next to an existing site at Robertsbridge; Chippings Depot, Rye, and land east of Down Edge and south-west of Moor Lane, Westfield.

Five pitches are needed by 2016, and six more before 2028. Of these, two pitches already have permanent planning permission. The council has stressed: “The identified sites are put forward for consultation purposes only, and do not represent council policy at this point.”