Concern over planned Gypsy sites - Cheshire

From the Middlewich Guardian

FIONA Bruce MP has expressed her concern over plans to transform farmland in Moston into a Gypsy site.

Tory Fiona wrote to Cheshire East Council (CEC) earlier this month about the plans, which would see four Gypsy pitches and eight caravans built on land south of Dragons Lane.

CEC southern planning committee is due to make a decision on the site proposals on November 21.

Plans for one family to live on the greenfield site - bordering Dragons Lane and Plant Lane - were approved by appeal in September.

This has prompted Gypsy site applications that were previously refused to be resubmitted saying there has been a change in circumstances.

Fiona’s letter comes after a meeting with the Action Moston campaign group, who fear the plans will see Moston lose its rural identity.

“I have corresponded with the Council on many occasions in respect of concerns represented to me by individual members of the group,” said Fiona, “But now there is considerable concern in the local area about the recent spate of planning applications for Gypsy sites and pitches.

“Action Moston have been told continuously that applications have to be treated in isolation and on their own merits,” said Fiona.

“They therefore feel very strongly that consent for the single plot which has now been given permission should not be used as a precedent. This plan for the four pitches is the same applicant and the same location.

“A key argument is that this application has already been refused and that the new application, with a new number, is exactly the same as previously. It has already been refused by the Southern Area Planning Committee."

Cheshire East Council’s leader, Clr Michael Jones, has expressed his commitment to finding suitable sites for Gypsies and Travellers in the area, but Fiona is not convinced.

She said: “There has been a provision for Traveller families in the area for a considerable period of time.

“I have personally visited the site at Kinderton Park and the residents advised me that there were up to 17 pitches.

“Interestingly, and for many years, almost all of which have not been taken up. This begs the question, is there really the local need?”