Last chance to comment on Travellers' sites - Somerset

From the Somerset Guardian

People have just days left to make their views known on Bath and North East Somerset Council's plans to create a number of Travellers' sites across the district.

The council was told by central government it needs to create 22 permanent pitches, 20 transit pitches and one yard for travelling Showmen but so far no sites have been allocated by the local authority – making it almost impossible for B&NES to carry out evictions on illegal encampments such as a site in Clandown which was in use for almost two years until April 2008.

The has suggested six possible sites and the number of pitches that could be homed on the patches on land:

Old Colliery Buildings, Stanton Wick: 15 permanent and five transit

Lower Bristol Road, Twerton: 15 transit

Land near Ellsbridge House, Keynsham: six permanent

Former Radstock Infant School canteen: two permanent

Woollard Lane, Parcel 7100, Whitchurch: two permanent

Station Road, Newbridge: one travelling showmen's yard.

The council's suggestions for the sites before a full consultation has taken place have angered people who live near the proposed locations with house sellers claiming sales have fallen through due to the uncertainty the situation has created.

Action groups have also been formed in Radstock and Stanton Wick with residents joining together to fight the plans.

B&NES cabinet has continually reiterated to concerned communities that no plans to create a site close to their homes have been agreed, that no decisions have been made on final site allocations, nor have any planning applications been submitted.

Landowners and residents are also encouraged to suggest possible alternatives that can be considered as part of the consultation.

Anyone with a site suggestions or comments on the proposal is asked to submit them by email to planning_policy@bathnes.gov.uk, by post to Gypsy and Traveller DPD, Planning Services, PO Box 5006, Bath BA1 1JG, or online at www.bathnes.gov.uk/planningfortravellers where more information is available as well as a form to download and return.

The deadline for comments is 5pm on Wednesday.

The results of the consultation will be considered at the B&NES cabinet meeting on September 12.