Planners to review new Blyth site for Travellers - Northumberland

From chroniclelive.co.uk

PLANNING chiefs are having to look again at building a Travellers’ site in Blyth after local opposition.

Fourteen sites were originally identified and examined by the county council for the £311,000, eight-pitch temporary facility for Gypsy and Roma Travellers.

Land on the edge of an industrial estate in Ennerdale Road, Blyth, emerged as the preferred location, after it scored highest against a set of Government criteria.

Confirmation of the chosen site was expected to be given by the council’s executive two months ago – but a decision was deferred following requests to look more closely at other potential sites.

The postponement followed the submission of a 677-name petition from people in the Cowpen and Kitty Brewster area of Blyth, opposing the Ennerdale Road site and calling for others to be considered more fully.

Now a group, chaired by Conservative county councillor Glen Sanderson, has met for the first time, and asked officers to re-evaluate prospective sites using a re-modelled set of criteria.

Officers have also been asked to consult with other local authorities on best practice in providing transit sites for travellers, and report back to the task group with their findings in February.

Coun Sanderson said: “The task group were not convinced that Ennerdale Road is the right site and not persuaded that the correct and fully criteria was considered.

“We asked the officers to re-look at the checklist and that might bring up other sites which are less controversial.

“The last thing we want is to impose something on local people against their wishes.”

The re-modelled criteria to be used in re-assessing the sites includes proximity to an A-class road and accessibility, and proximity to public transport routes, health services, education and training.

It also includes whether the site will allow “harmonious relations and integrated co-existence,” with the local community, and issues such as flood risk.