Scores of Thornaby residents turn up to meeting to protest against Gypsy site proposals - Yorkshire

From the Gazette Live

Passionate protesters turned up in their scores to a heated residents’ meeting in Thornaby last night.

About 120 residents turned up to the meeting at Eltham Crescent Community Centre to protest against a Gypsy/Travellers’ site proposal in the area.

Les Hodge, chairman of Stainsby Hill Residents’ Association, who chaired the meeting said: “We as a community are against these proposals.

“The area on Eltham Crescent that Stockton Council has proposed the site to be is actually the only bit of green where the kids can play football.

“The fact its location is between an old people’s home and a school is what people are objecting to.”

The land on Eltham Crescent is one of two possible Gypsy sites proposed in Thornaby by Stockton Council - the other is between the River Tees and Thornaby Road.

The town already has two permanent Travellers’ settlements in Teesdale Terrace and Windsor Oval.

Following Government regulations all councils had to come up with proposals for sites for Gypsies and Travellers as “potential locations” and after looking at 11,000 sites across the borough, a shortlist of six sites was drawn up by Stockton Council.

These are the two in Thornaby; land to rear of Roddmere, Yarm Back Lane, Stockton; Frederick Street, Stockton; between Bowesfield Crescent and the River Tees, Stockton and Mill Lane, Billingham.

Council chiefs say inclusion in the list does not mean the sites will actually be developed.

At the meeting last night, Louise Baldock, the Labour Party candidate for the Stockton South parliamentary constituency, said: “I don’t want people to lose sleep that Gypsies will be moving in next door.

“Nothing has been decided yet, there is time for you all to state your objections.”

Mr Hodge added: “This decision has not been made. We are all fighting against it. It’s important we all make sure the council knows our objections.”

Councillor Steve Walmsley, group leader of the Thornaby Independent Association, said that the council had “stigmatised the areas” in Thornaby “simply by naming the sites in the proposals” and urged all councillors and residents to vote against the proposals.

Members of Stockton Council’s Cabinet will consider a proposal to start public consultation on the suitability of the sites when they meet tonight.

It is expected that protesters will turn up to Stockton Town Hall prior to the meeting to speak out against the Gypsy site proposals.