Travellers' decision 'won't be political' - Swansea

From the South Wales Evening Post

WHERE Travellers live is an emotional subject, but Swansea's council leader has promised to "take politics" out of the decision.

The local authority has a duty to provide a permanent second site for them — they already have a full one in Llansamlet, and another family is currently pitched on a temporary site at Swansea Vale Park and Ride. However, Swansea's leader David Phillips has moved to assure concerned residents politics will not play a part in the decision- making.

Mr Phillips said the current search for a second permanent site for Traveller families would be based on expert advice.

He said council officers would rank a shortlist of sites based on professional assessments of the options. The ranked sites will also be assessed independently.

The process will conclude with the ranked sites being considered by the full council.

Mr Phillips said: "The process of identifying a list of sites will be based entirely on professional advice and guidance from the Welsh Government. It will not be open to political interference."

Nick Bradley, who chairs the working group that reviewed the selection process, said: "People have concerns about potential sites, but I can reassure them that no decisions have been made.

"The people of Swansea and the traveller families deserve to have the most appropriate site based on government guidance and professional assessments of the options."

Meanwhile Llansamlet residents will be holding a meeting about a potential new site tomorrow. A Llansamlet home owner, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said she would, along with her neighbours, be attending the meeting to air their worries based on their experiences of living close to the current site.