Morley councillors’ anger at Traveller site plans delay - Yorkshire

From the Morley Observer and Advertiser

Councillors are calling for answers after a nine month delay on the decision about a potential Travellers site.

Morley Borough Independents claim the decision on a family’s plans to develop brownfield land off Sandon Mount in Hunslet has been unfairly delayed.

The site is close to health facilities and schools, which Government guidance says is preferable.

A decision on the plans is still pending, despite the target decision date originally being set as January 28, 2013.

Proposals to expand an existing site at Cottingley are also being considering by planning officers.

Coun Robert Finnigan, who represents Morley North, said: “Where we could be providing small Traveller sites, as guidance confirms we should be doing, the council chooses not to. Yet the Cottingley Springs expansion, which is a nailed-on rejection because it is in contrast to guidance, is being accelerated.”

He said Leeds City Council’s £1m 12-pitch expansion of the council’s permanent Traveller site, Cottingley Springs, should be abandoned as it encroaches on the green belt and is not close to health centres or schools.

The application received more than 80 objections and 39 letters in support.

Councillors, residents and Hunslet Carr Primary School objected to the plans for reasons including traffic, noise and crime fears.

But it has won support from Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange.

A council spokeswoman said: “The application has taken longer to determine as it involves a number of issues including the detail of pitch provision across the city and national guidance and decision making.”

She said a decision on Sandon Mount was “imminent”.