Council leader fears burden of Gypsy site on Letchworth - Hertfordshire

From Comet24

A BURDEN would be placed on a town’s infrastructure if proposals for a Gypsy site on its outskirts were given the green light, a council leader has claimed.

Leader of North Herts District Council (NHDC) Cllr Lynda Needham spoke out at last week’s Letchworth area committee meeting after neighbouring Central Beds Council revealed a shortlist of seven Gypsy sites.

Its list includes a site on land south of Fairfield and west of Stotfold Road – on the border of Letchworth GC.

Cllr Needham said if plans were given the go-ahead, NHDC’s residents would not reap the benefits of the council tax which would be paid by the families living on the site but would have to bear the drain on Letchworth’s infrastructure.

She said: “At the moment, Central Bedfordshire Council are in the early stages of the consultation however, if the site does get chosen, I would be nervous about the impact it would have on the infrastructure in Letchworth especially as Letchworth will need to accommodate extra housing which will also have an impact on the town.”

She also claimed schools and doctors surgeries were already under pressure in Letchworth GC.

And Cllr Needham, who confirmed the council would be contacting CBC, also said the town felt the impact of the Fairfield Park housing development that has been built.

“We will be making a representation to Central Bedfordshire Council and the first instance will raise our concerns over the time frame that has been given to make our representation and also on the issue of them not consulting people living on the edge of the town who do not know about the proposal,” she added.

A total of 10 pitches have been proposed for the site.