Potton dropped from Central Bedfordshire Gypsy and Traveller site shortlist

From Bedfordshire On Sunday

CENTRAL Bedfordshire councillors have recommended that one of the Gypsy and Traveller sites shortlisted for creation be dropped from the plans.

At a meeting of the authority’s sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, members decided not to go ahead with a site proposed for land east of Potton Road and south of Ram Farm.

The six sites which will be created if approved by the executive and full council later this month will be in Barton-le-Clay, Stotfold, Tingrith, Dunstable and Pulloxhill.

Site 26 on land south west of Park Corner Farm and south of Dunton Lane has been replaced by land south of Dunton Lane and west of Dunton.

Kennel Farm Holdings, to the east of Biggleswade, was recommended separately as a site for accommodation for travelling showpeople.

The committee recommended that a compound household growth rate of two per cent for the Traveller community also be used.

Councillor Nigel Young said: “We’re acutely aware of the significance of this debate for both the settled and the Traveller communities but we have a legal duty to provide appropriate accommodation. The committee’s recommendation means we’ll need to provide 131 pitches until 2031.

“We considered the sites in some detail after receiving really useful feedback in last year’s public consultation. The recommended sites will provide 66 pitches. The remaining required pitches will be delivered through ‘windfall sites’. We will continue to monitor the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites.”