5,800 campaigners say 'no' to Newport Gypsy sites

From the South Wales Argus

CAMPAIGNERS against proposed Gypsy sites in Newport have collected more than 5,800 objections.

The final tally of those opposed to the sites will be made after the consultation process ends tomorrow.

Residents of Llanmartin were due to hand in 1,000 letters of objections to sites in the south of the city.

Meanwhile, residents from Langstone have written 1,556 letters to the council and submitted a 972-name petition.

Residents in the area, which includes the Underwood estate, are concerned about a proposed site west of Llanmartin Primary School.

Aimee-Marie Kitchen, chairwoman of the Underwood, Llanmartin and Llanwern Community Voice group, said: “We’re just amazed that the council has proposed this site.

“We just want to make sure that the right thing is done.”

Mrs Kitchen raised questions over access to the site, said it is currently accessed via a single track which crosses a reen, and said it is impacted by flooding.

Objections were also raised about other sites in the south of the city, including a proposed site at the former road safety centre on Hartridge Farm Road.

Peter Morgan, chairman of Langstone Community Action Group, said he was over the moon with the response from residents in Langstone.

Letters from Langstone residents were written to object to three sites in the ward – a yard adjacent to the A449, the former Langstone Nursery on Magor Road and land south of Langstone Cottage.

The owner of the Langstone Nursery site is record-breaking vegetable grower Ian Neale. It has also emerged that an ancient monument is on the Langstone Cottage site.

A spokesman for the Marshfield and Castleton action group, which is objecting to the proposed sites on the former chicken processing plant at Castleton and land at Celtic Way, Marshfield, said a petition of 800 names had been collected and estimated that approximately 1,500 people had submitted objections to the council.

Councillors in the group that made the 11 proposals are set to make a shortlist following the consultation.

Shortlist to be drawn up from 11 sites

THE 11 sites under consultation are:

● Land at Brickyard Lane

● Former Allt-yr-yn Brickworks

● Yard adjacent to the A449

● Land to the west of Llanmartin Primary School

● Former Langstone Nursery, Magor Road

● Land to the south of Langstone Cottage on Old Chepstow Road

● Former Ringland allotments

● Former Road Safety Centre, Hartridge Farm Road

● Former speedway site, Plover Close, Llanwern

● Former chicken processing plant, Castleton

● Land at Celtic Way, Marshfield



COMMENT: Gypsy site headache

IT COMES as little surprise that the protest against at least some of the proposed Gypsy and Traveller sites for Newport has been so robust.

And as the 28-day consultation period comes to an end, it does potentially leave the city council with a bit of a headache.

On the one hand a public consultation means just that.

The responses have to be listened to and have to be taken into account. That is only fair.

The trouble is that, in this case, there does appear to be a resounding “no” to the current new suggestions for Gypsy and Traveller sites across the city.

On the other hand, the council is under an obligation to set aside land for such a development. It has to come up with something.

It is probably fair to say that it is far better to have specific sites earmarked for the travelling community than see the temporary creation of ad hoc settlements which otherwise often appear.

But this issue is always difficult.

Now the consultation is over the council will go away and come up with a firm list of proposals Our worry is that when it does the whole issue will flare up once again.

The problem we may all have to face is that we cannot keep returning to the drawing board and at some point a decision will have to be made.