Travellers' sites plans go ahead after challenge - Leicestershire

From the Leicester Mercury

Labour city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has seen off a challenge from within his own party on his controversial decision to develop two managed Travellers sites.

On Thursday night, members of Leicester City Council endorsed the mayor's plans to set up council-controlled pitches in Red Hill Way, Mowmacre Hill, and Greengate Lane, Beaumont Leys, to try to reduce the number of illegal camps in the city.

It followed a challenge to the decision by five councillors representing the Beaumont Leys and Abbey wards, who said residents were strongly opposed to having the sites near their homes.

They used "call in" rules to try to force a debate to get Sir Peter to rethink the decision, which he had been set to sign off.

It was the first time the legislation had been used to challenge a mayoral decision since Sir Peter was elected.

Beaumont Leys councillor Paul Westley called for his colleagues to reject Sir Peter's decision but only eight out of 54 supported him. He said: "I am disappointed. It's totally unacceptable to my constituents. They feel this part of the city is being unfairly burdened by too many plots."

Fellow ward councillor Sundip Meghani said illegal camps were a citywide problem needing a citywide solution.

He said: "All of us recognise the problem with illegal encampments. It's been going on for decades, but this approach is the completely wrong approach."

He said he was disappointed more members of the Labour-dominated council did not support a rethink, but said the sites would still be fought over at the planning stage.

Labour members of the planning committee, except for Coun Meghani, opted not to take part in the debate at the town hall, despite council lawyers telling them it would not prejudice any future decision.

Sir Peter told councillors that successive administrations had for years run away from tackling the issue of illegal camps.

He also said the problem had been historically greater in the north west part of the city and that was the best place to solve it.

He also said that the 16 pitches proposed at the two sites were not a panacea and that a need for 40 had been identified.

He said: "This is just the start of the process.

"It is good that we have had this debate. There was no whip on it and it is right the councillors should represent the views of the people in their wards.

"I am glad the council has endorsed my decision."