Former mayor of Bridlington has hit out at plans to cater for more Gypsies in East Riding - Yorkshire

From the Hull Daily Mail

A FORMER mayor of Bridlington has hit out at plans to cater for more Gypsies and Travellers in the town.

East Riding Council has identified the need to provide a further 25 pitches on two sites that will accommodate about 100 extra people.

The three possible sites under discussion are Woldgate, Bridlington, and Eppleworth Road, Cottingham, where there are existing sites, and a new location south of Moor Lane at Carnaby, Bridlington.

Town Councillor Cyril Marsburg, who has been in local politics more than 30 years and has twice been Bridlington mayor, is furious about the plans.

He said: "I just don't understand why they would want to locate them in Bridlington.

"The people in Carnaby are very upset about this development.

"We've previously been reassured there won't be any more Gypsy sites in this area."

East Riding Council currently has three Gypsy sites.

As well as Eppleworth Road and Woldgate there is one off Harland Way in Cottingham.

The East Riding's Traveller population stands at 488 people, but there is overcrowding and the population is predicted to increase as families expand.

The extra sites provision will form part of the East Riding Council Local Plan, a blueprint for development from 2014 to 2029.

The consultation on where the East Riding's 25 new pitches should go will run until May 6.

Proposals to create further pitches for Travellers and Gypsies have previously been met with local opposition.

But that has been overcome through consultation and the planning process.

Some people in Cottingham campaigned on behalf of improving and extending the Eppleworth Road site.

John Craig, East Riding Council forward planning and housing strategy manager, said: "What we are looking at is future needs.

"We are required to identify pitches for the first five years of the plan.

"The new pitches we're seeking to identify are to meet the needs of the resident population, which is increasing."

Cllr Marsburg believes more or extended Gypsy and Traveller sites will put off visitors to Bridlington.

He said: "Visitors don't want to be greeted by a Gypsy camp.

"The one in Woldgate is next to the 'Welcome to Bridlington' sign.

"We're a holiday resort and this never seems to go away. Where will it stop?"

Another issue is, as the Gypsy and Traveller population are faced with opposition to more camps, it struggles to represent itself.

Hidden Voices, the organisation that liaised between local authorities and Travellers' groups in East Yorkshire, has now been disbanded because its lottery funding ran out.

Visit http://eastriding.limehouse.co.uk/portal/ or www.eastriding.gov.uk/erlocalplan to have your say on the plans.

Read more: http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/mayor-Bridlington-hit-plans-cater-Gypsies-East/story-18554424-detail/story.html#ixzz2OxuuYkbh
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