Travellers' site in Datchet moves a step closer - Berkshire

From the Ascot Windsor and Eton Express

A Travellers' site in Datchet has moved a step closer to being given the green light.

Royal Borough cabinet members decided to develop the site at Mill Place to include 10 pitches, costing £700,000, subject to permission being granted by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

They also agreed to enter into a 99-year lease for the Mill Place land at £30,000 per year.

Speaking at a meeting on Thursday, October 24, cabinet member for planning and property Cllr MJ Saunders (Con, Bisham and Cookham) said: "We have done a lot of work to fulfil our obligation to provide these pitches, we looked at a number of sites and held a number of consultations.

"It became clear that the Traveller community in Datchet was already quite substantial and it was sensible for us to leave the door open for a planning application to come forward which it did.

"The planning consent was approved and now the secretary of state is looking into it. I look forward to this coming to fruition and I am glad to be part of its conception."

It is hoped the site, if approved by the Secretary of State, will be complete and occupied by March 2015.

The meeting took place at Windsor Guildhall.