Traveller and Gypsy site plan - Bedfordshire

From Dunstable Today

The updated draft Gypsy and Traveller local plan is set to go before Central Beds Council at a meeting this Thursday, January 30.

If approved by the full council, the revised Central Beds plan will be published in February.

A fresh round of full public consultation, lasting six weeks, will then be held, to give everyone an opportunity to have their say.

The aim is for the plan, along with any responses from the consultation, to be submitted to the relevant Secretary of State in June.

Committees have been considering points raised during last year’s extensive public consultation.

Various changes have been made to the draft plan and to the list of sites.

But the proposal regarding Green Vale, on the A5 south of Dunstable, is unchanged since last year’s consultation.

Nine pitches are still proposed at Green Vale, where a number of Traveller families already live, and a caravan sales business operates.

The local plan sets out how the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and travelling Showpeople would be met until 2031. It also details planning policies against which planning applications for sites would be assessed.

Executive councillors have backed a recommendation for 131 Gypsy and Traveller pitches and 20 travelling Showperson plots to be provided in Central Beds up to 2031.

Earlier this month, executive councillor Nigel Young said: “We will have another full public consultation around February to March.”

Consultation feedback will be submitted to the Secretary of State along with the plan.

It is expected that an independent planning inspector will hold an “examination in public” in the autumn.

Supporters can put their arguments in person to the inspector, who will also consider written comments.

> For more information, see the council’s website via www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/gypsyTravellerplan