Changes made to proposed Gypsy sites in Advertiser area - Bedfordshire

From the Advertiser

A draft plan which lists four sites in the Advertiser area for future use by Gypsies and Travellers could be altered by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC).

Changes were proposed to the draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan – which identifies where the council would prefer Gypsies to be accommodated up to 2031 – in response to points raised by the public during consultation.

One of the proposed changes would see a planned Biggleswade site south of Dunton Lane – known as Site 55 or GT11 – dropped in favour of a location further along the road to Dunton, known as Site 26.

CBC noted that the suggestion had been made by a number of respondents, as Site 26 it was further from a scheduled ancient monument and along a straighter part of the road.

Meanwhile a proposed site north of Potton and east of Potton Road – known as Site 58 or GT12 – could be dropped from the plan altogether, with it suggested an existing Gypsy site off of Myers Road be expanded instead.

Independent CBC councillor for Potton, Adam Zerny, said: “While delighted to see the council has at last considered dropping a new site for Potton, I am taking-up the concerns of residents of Dunton unhappy about Site 26 being considered.”

However, council officers suggested no major changes to a site east of Biggleswade planned for travelling showpeople. The site, in Kennel Farm off of Dunton Lane, is known as Site 82 or GT17.

Similarly, no major changes were suggested to a proposed site south of Fairfield, near Stotfold, known as Site 76 or GT15.

The possible changes will now be discussed by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee at CBC, when they meet on Tuesday (January 14) at 2pm.

Cllr Nigel Young, executive member for strategic planning at CBC, said: “We wanted to act to strengthen our draft plan.

“So we took the opportunity to consider whether any changes are appropriate and at the same time, to update our Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA).

“Now that we’ve done that, we will discuss the GTAA and consultation feedback at special Overview and Scrutiny and Executive Committees on January 14 and 21. After that we’ll take any changes to full council on January 30.

“We want to make sure that people can have their say on any changes or updates to the draft local plan, so we will have another full public consultation around February to March.

“We’ll submit those responses to the Secretary of State with our draft Plan by June this year.”

The proposed Site 58 had angered some residents in nearby Gamlingay, across the Cambridgeshire border, who argued they were not properly consulted.

But CBC officers dismissed the claim, responding: “The Council has endeavoured to fulfil the duty to cooperate, holding meetings with neighbouring authorities to discuss the plan making process.”