From the Daily Echo
BOURNEMOUTH council’s leader has said that four sites earmarked for Travellers in the town will not be considered further.
It will be welcome news for residents, many of whom have campaigned against using the sites put forward for use by travellers after the government asked all councils to find land.
It comes as the county-wide consultation to find suitable sites moves into its next phase.
The county council said that almost 10,000 individual response and 32 petitions containing more than 6,000 signatures had been received.
A report has been compiled and is available on the dorsetforyou.com website.
But Bournemouth council leader Cllr John Beesley said: “Bournemouth remains committed to the Joint Development Planning Document (DPD) process.
“However, having considered the nature and number of responses presented in Peter Brett Associates’ (formerly Bakers Associates) final report on the Issues and Options Public Consultation regarding the four sites identified in Bournemouth, it is clear that for sound planning reasons none of these are appropriate to be taken forward to later stages of the DPD process.
“For that reason, therefore, I can indicate that the sites included in the earlier consultation exercise, namely land near Erlin Farm, Careys Road, Throop Road and Park Road, will not be subject to further consideration and will not therefore appear in later stages of the DPD process.
“I hope that this will put at rest the minds of those residents who have understandably been expressing concern at these proposals.
“I am aware that other sites were suggested by the public as part of the consultation process. However from our knowledge of Bournemouth and the borough-wide analysis undertaken by Bakers, it is very unlikely that a suitable alternative site will be forthcoming.”
Restaurateur Alex De Freitas, pictured, who campaigned against the Park Road site, said: “I’m very pleased that the council has reached this decision, especially as Lansdowne has now been included in the Business Improvement District programme for town centre improvement.
“It would be ludicrous to place a Travellers’ in any town centre. It shows that the research carried out by the consultants didn’t take into consideration that Lansdowne was part of Bournemouth town centre. I thank all the people who filled in petitions and supported the campaign.
“Our voices have been heard.”
In a statement on behalf of all planning authorities in the county, a spokesman for the county council added: “Councils will consider carrying out a new assessment, which, once approved, will be completed in the first part of next year.
“A number of new and alternative sites were suggested by members of the public and others through the consultation process. These will be investigated by the councils with their consultants following completion of the needs assessment.”
The initial plans shortlisted sites at Turlin Road, Canford Heath Road and Bourne Valley Road in Poole.
In Bournemouth, Park Road was the only site shortlisted, while the others were listed as for “possible investigation”.
see also: The BBC - Bournemouth Gypsy site proposals rejected
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