Proposal for 37 Traveller pitches in Kettering - Northamptonshire

From the BBC

Plans to allocate land for up to 37 Traveller pitches in the Kettering area are to go before councillors.

Among the proposals are 10 new pitches at Highcroft Farm, Broughton, and a possible site for up to 15 pitches on land at Junction 4 of the A14 at Rothwell.

The borough council has a legal duty to provide Gypsy and Traveller sites.

The council is holding a special meeting to look at possible sites for new pitches on 19 February.

A report says the council has received 84 objections to the Highcroft Farm site with concerns raised about road safety and lack of education facilities for Traveller communities.

It says another possible site - for up to seven pitches at Scott Road Garages, Kettering - has received 408 objections, including a call for the site to be used for housing.

There is also a proposal for one pitch in Crown Street, Kettering.

Councillors are being asked to consider three options:

Allocate sites for the 37 pitches needed by 2031.
Allocate sites for the 25 pitches needed by 2022 to meet short/medium term need.
Expand the search for sites to include open countryside, where previously the search for sites has looked for urban land.

The borough council is also looking at making permanent temporary planning permission for three pitches at Black Paddock, Braybrooke and one pitch at Woodcroft, Desborough.