Concern over Langley Green Gypsy site plan - Sussex

From the West Sussex Gazette

About 100 people packed into Langley Green Community Centre to hear more about proposals for housing and a Gypsy site in Langley Walk.

There are two sites in Langley Walk in Crawley Borough Council’s local plan, called Crawley 2029, which the council is currently consulting the whole town about.

The land next to Langley Walk and Burlands is suggested for housing and has been put on the council’s list of sites that ‘need more investigation’. Land opposite Mulberry Road is one of two areas suggested for a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site of 10 pitches. The other is at Broadfield Kennels.

At the heated debate last Tuesday, residents raised concern about flooding and the suitability of the road.

Brett Ward, of Prestwood Close, Langley Green, said: “There are areas all over Crawley especially down in the industrial estate where they are massive open land where you have the right infrastructure.

“If you actually think about the roads there, Travellers can go freely as they please.

“I’m sure Travellers, by their transient nature, would appreciate that. When you put a Traveller site away from a community it doesn’t upset the residents and it doesn’t upset the Travellers.

CBC planning policy manager Elizabeth Brigden, who attended the meeting to answer questions, said: “We are not looking at Gypsy and Travellers outside Crawley but the population already in Crawley and their needs.

“We have a requirement to find a Gypsy Traveller site and that means we have to show how we will meet it. There are two suggested sites, which may or may not be suitable for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.”

Currently many of Crawley’s Gypsies and Travellers, live in bricks and mortar housing and are thought to be happy there, but Ms Brigden said the council must still show it has provided a site for them, should they want to live that lifestyle.

She said: “A site would not come forward until something triggers it in the Gypsy community saying they need the site. It would be a reserved site. This is why we are having the consultation.”

To comment on the plans go follow the link on the CBC’s website www.crawley.gov.uk