Sutton Bridge Travellers’ site is given new backing - Norfolk

From Lynn News

CONTROVERSIAL proposals to renew planning permission for a Travellers’ caravan site in Sutton Bridge have been approved by councillors.

In spite of opposition from parish councils and the Sutton Bridge Gun Club to the “temporary stopping place” on land off Centenary Way, South Holland district councillors deemed it necessary to stop random pitching across the area.

The plan for 10 pitches was submitted by the district council and originally approved in June 2009.

But Sutton Bridge parish councillors raised objections to the renewal last year, citing concerns about the Travellers’ safety because of the increasing level of lorries using the roads in the area.

The safety of Travellers and drivers was again listed as one of the objections at the meeting of South Holland district council’s planning committee last Wednesday.

Concerns were also raised by the Walpole parish council over policing and the need for a site when there was already one on the A151 at Holbeach.

Michael Williams, safety officer of the Clay Pigeon Association, addressed the council on behalf of the shooting club.

He said: “Our concern would be if children from the site trespassed and came within shot.”

But councillor Michael Booth told the meeting: “In the three years since approval of the site we have had no problems with Gypsies or Travellers on the roadside.

“We have spoken about danger zones and we expect people would respect it is private land, although I would like to know who would be responsible if dogs strayed.”

Councillors were reminded the application was for the renewal of permission for a site and the length of stay of most occupants was unlikely to exceed seven days.

Parish council chairman Roger Gambba-Jones said: “It is not right there has been no problems with gypsies – I know of two or three instances around Spalding.”

This was highlighted in the district council’s Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessment (GTAA), which pointed to a “need for a small publicly provided transit/emergency stopping place”.