Thornaby councillors will not accept new Gypsy sites in the town - Yorkshire

From the Gazette

Furious Thornaby councillors have vowed to fight proposals for two possible new Gypsy sites in their town.

The Thornaby Independent Association (TIA) councillors said “Hades will undergo an Ice Age” before they would accept “any hint of a site in Thornaby”.

As reported, Stockton Council has drawn up a controversial shortlist of six sites across the borough potentially suitable for Gypsy and Traveller families.

The council has revealed the shortlist was drawn up after nearly 11,000 sites were initially identified.

Two of the sites are in Thornaby – on Eltham Crescent and between the River Tees and Thornaby Road.

TIA councillor Steve Walmsley said the town had been “disproportionately targeted again”.

“We already have permanent settlements in Teesdale Terrace and Windsor Oval – that’s enough thank you!” he said.

“It is truly amazing that two sites identified in Thornaby are both in deprived areas and prone to crime and anti-social behaviour.

“So which genius came up with the notion of adding to misery and widespread concern by selecting these plots of land?”

Mark Chatburn, UKIP councillor for Yarm and Kirklevington, is urging council officers to provide councillors with a list of all the sites considered and the reasons why they were ruled out.

The other sites shortlisted are land to the 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.

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

Cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said: “The Government requires every council in the country to identify sites that are suitable for the Gypsy and Traveller community.

“This does not mean the council plans to develop and run such sites – we do not.

“However, we must allocate land for planning purposes that is suitable for such use should members of the Gypsy and Traveller community request permission to develop a site.”

Cllr Smith said initially 10,984 plots of land within Stockton Council’s ownership were identified.

“Areas that would be too small to provide adequate space and facilities were removed from the options,” he said.

“The remaining 1,015 sites were then technically assessed against set criteria – taking into account factors such as the shape of the plot, vehicular access, wildlife habitat, flooding risks and whether it has already been identified for other proposed use – before producing a shortlist of six for consideration by elected members.

“Their inclusion on the shortlist is not necessarily an endorsement of the suitability or acceptability of the sites for Gypsy or Traveller needs, nor does it imply any council support for its allocation.”

If agreed by full council, the consultation period will run from February 3 to March 17 with all comments received forming part of a further assessment of the sites.

A draft Gipsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations local development document would then be released for public consultation this summer.