Leeds Traveller site set to stay as future remains unclear - Yorkshire

From the Yorkshire Evening Post

There is “no timescale” to move on Travellers staying on a pioneering temporary site authorised by Leeds City Council.

A group with around 11 caravans and a number of vehicles agreed a short-term deal to stay on the site, in Bath Road, Holbeck, in August, which was reportedly to end in September.

The Travellers, who are still on the site, agreed to look after the land, ensure numbers are restricted and agree to acceptable behaviour to stay there.

Coun Peter Gruen, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and housing, said: “We know that this will not be a permanent arrangement, we have always said it will be temporary.

“We know it is earmarked for a regeneration project so we keep everything under review as an ongoing business.”

He said that he is not aware of any issues between the Travellers and local businesses, in what is not a residential area, but at some point a review of this will be drawn up.

Helen Jones, chief executive officer for Leeds Gipsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE), said: “We understand there have been a small number of management issues but so far nobody is freaking out. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for people to relax and access health care and education.”

Plans for 12 more permanent traveller pitches at Cottingley Springs, funded by a £1m Government grant, are meanwhile being drawn up by the council to house Leeds-based groups.

But a nearby Holbeck businessman, under the condition of anonymity, told the YEP that “businesses were not happy”.

He said: “They (Travellers) are having bonfires there, they are burning plastic and burning tyres. If I burned one bit of plastic I would have environment officials down here.”

If successful, the agreement could set a precedent for similar deals across the city.

A council spokeswoman said they can either lengthen the current deal with the travellers, direct them elsewhere or recover the site through court.

She said before a decision is made welfare needs assessments and consultation with local businesses need to be done.