Newport Gipsy sites meeting delayed - Wales

From the South Wales Argus

A MEETING to discuss controversial proposals for Gypsy and Travellers sites in Newport has been postponed due to the number of responses the council has received.

More than 5,500 people have had their say on the plans.

These include Llanmartin residents who have sent 1,000 letters of objection to sites in the south of the city, and those from Langstone who have submitted 1,556 letters and a 972-name petition.

Every response is being read as part of a review looking at which of 11 shortlisted areas is best suited for potential permanent and transit sites. As a result, a meeting to discuss the sites scheduled for next week has been postponed until October 29.

Newport has no designated Gypsy and Traveller sites – a breach of Welsh Government policy – so a council policy and reviewgroup drewup the shortlist from 220 sites.

Eleven sites were identified as best meeting the criteria prescribed by Welsh Government policies, but not all will be needed to fulfil the council’s responsibilities.

At least one permanent site must be found for the small number of families who already live in Newport, while a transit site is needed for Travellers passing through.

Families who use the sites will have to pay for services, including council tax, as they do now. The sites will help the council tackle the problem of illegal encampments.

The scrutiny committee will make recommendations to cabinet about preferred sites but any decisions about which areas should be included in the local development plan will be made by full council next year.

Members of the public can make comments when planning applications are considered and when the Welsh Government considers Newport’s development plan.

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