DOZENS of residents have complained about plans to build a new site for Travellers.
Hambleton Council has received 59 written objections to proposals for a private facility in Great Broughton.
And more than 100 people gathered to have their say.
Residents living close to the proposed plot on farmland at Ings Lane told a meeting of Great and Little Broughton Parish Council of their concerns at the growth potential of the “one-family” caravan site plan.
The sometimes-heated meeting was held ahead of the relevant application going before the district council’s planning committee on February 2.
The change-of-use application would see agricultural land become a private travellers’ site for one family. It would also involve the creation of new access onto the main road.
Among those airing their concerns at Great Broughton village hall was Frances Taylor, who questioned the distance between the new access point and a “blind” bridge.
John Pollitt, acting as agent for the applicant, replied that there would be at least 100 metres clearance.
Residents also questioned the fairness of the application being approved, considering families are already living on the site.
And they also brought up the issue of potential expansion of the site.
Ward councillor Margaret Skillbeck asked: “The agent has talked about 10 sites being on the area - why was this application put in for one family rather than the exact situation?”
Planning chief Maurice Cann said each application had to be assessed individually. When asked whether he would be recommending approval, he said: “Subject to the Highways Agency being satisfied.”
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Mixed response to Traveller site plans - Wokingham
Families living on an overcrowded Traveller site in Twyford say there is no space to build extra pitches.
A £550,000 grant from the Home and Communities Agency will provide £115,000 for four extra pitches at Twyford Orchards in London Road.
The remaining money will be spent on improvements to 16 pitches already at the site.
However Bill Light, 38, who has lived at the site for 31 years, said: “At the end of the day do we want any more pitches here?
“We don’t need it because it’s already overcrowded as it is.
“If you look at the number of cars which are here, it’s blocked up already.”
Mr Light also raised concerns about new people moving into the site and disrupting the close-knit community.
He said: “If you get more plots up here it means more outsiders and we are quite a good community.
“What is in here at the moment is all family. It changes things.”
The bid for funding was made by Sovereign Housing Group (Housing Solutions) on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council and the two organisations are working on the project together.
The money is part of a £47 million grant pot to fund new and improved Traveller pitches around the country.
Teresa and John Cooper, who have lived at Twyford Orchards for 30 years, said they were concerned the development could encroach on space used for parking.
They said: “If they put the pitches out the front where we have got the trucks there will be problems.
“We’ve had this problem before.
“People have the vehicles and where are they going to go?
“The situation is we do not have any room and if they take my frontage I would have to park everything in the road.”
Mr and Mrs Cooper also raised concerns the extra pitches could lead to access problems for emergency services.
They said: “It needs to be kept clear for the ambulances and things.
“We were against if before when they were on about taking some space.”
But the couple welcomed the possibility of improvements to some pitches on the site.
They said: “It would be good, any improvement would be.
“We have been here nearly 31 years and they have never bothered us.
“They’ve never done anything to the whole place and we were always asking for a drain in the road.
“And then a few years ago we got a new building and now this. It will be good for us but we need to find out what they’re going to do.”
David Stevens, who has lived at Twyford Orchards all his life, said the new pitches would be beneficial to those looking for their own plots.
The 25-year-old, who lives with his partner and baby girl in a shared pitch with his mother, said: “I was a baby here and so I want to get a pitch of my own if there is some.
“I’ll be over the moon if I can get a place. We’ve been on the list for a place for ages.”
A £550,000 grant from the Home and Communities Agency will provide £115,000 for four extra pitches at Twyford Orchards in London Road.
The remaining money will be spent on improvements to 16 pitches already at the site.
However Bill Light, 38, who has lived at the site for 31 years, said: “At the end of the day do we want any more pitches here?
“We don’t need it because it’s already overcrowded as it is.
“If you look at the number of cars which are here, it’s blocked up already.”
Mr Light also raised concerns about new people moving into the site and disrupting the close-knit community.
He said: “If you get more plots up here it means more outsiders and we are quite a good community.
“What is in here at the moment is all family. It changes things.”
The bid for funding was made by Sovereign Housing Group (Housing Solutions) on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council and the two organisations are working on the project together.
The money is part of a £47 million grant pot to fund new and improved Traveller pitches around the country.
Teresa and John Cooper, who have lived at Twyford Orchards for 30 years, said they were concerned the development could encroach on space used for parking.
They said: “If they put the pitches out the front where we have got the trucks there will be problems.
“We’ve had this problem before.
“People have the vehicles and where are they going to go?
“The situation is we do not have any room and if they take my frontage I would have to park everything in the road.”
Mr and Mrs Cooper also raised concerns the extra pitches could lead to access problems for emergency services.
They said: “It needs to be kept clear for the ambulances and things.
“We were against if before when they were on about taking some space.”
But the couple welcomed the possibility of improvements to some pitches on the site.
They said: “It would be good, any improvement would be.
“We have been here nearly 31 years and they have never bothered us.
“They’ve never done anything to the whole place and we were always asking for a drain in the road.
“And then a few years ago we got a new building and now this. It will be good for us but we need to find out what they’re going to do.”
David Stevens, who has lived at Twyford Orchards all his life, said the new pitches would be beneficial to those looking for their own plots.
The 25-year-old, who lives with his partner and baby girl in a shared pitch with his mother, said: “I was a baby here and so I want to get a pitch of my own if there is some.
“I’ll be over the moon if I can get a place. We’ve been on the list for a place for ages.”
Friday, 20 January 2012
£3.4m boost for Travellers in Wiltshire
Wiltshire has been granted £3.4 million to create and upgrade sites for Gypsies and Travellers.
The money – awarded to Wiltshire Council by the Government – is the largest allocation in the south west.
Of the amount, £1.15million will be used for 20 new pitches and £2.3million is for improvements to 40 existing pitches.
Wiltshire Council will be putting in £250,000 towards the scheme.
Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council Cabinet member for development control, said the council had to provide sites for Gypsies and the travelling community by law. It currently has 102 pitches.
He said consultation was ongoing with gypsies and land owners about finding suitable sites for the 20 new pitches which would probably be on three sites.
He said one possible site could be Chelworth Lodge at Cricklade which got planning permission on appeal for a Travellers’ site.
Coun Sturgis added it was also possible that a few of the new pitches could be provided at some of the council’s existing Gypsy sites.
The improvements to 40 pitches would probably be to some on each of the sites the council owns.
These are Thingley at Chippenham (which has 23 pitches), Fairhaven, Dilton Marsh (seven pitches), Lode Hill, Downton (ten pitches), Dairy House Bridge, Salisbury (18 pitches), Oak Tree Fields, Odstock (32 pitches) and Odstock transit site (12 pitches).
Coun Sturgis said: “Where mobile homes have moved in and out there is a lot of uneven concrete.
“The surfaces are not as good as I would like to see and some of the electrical and water connections are not up to standard because they have been altered a number of times.”
He added: “It’s very good news that the Government is providing the capital money for this as we would have had to spend a large amount of our own capital. We can use that capital for something else.”
Andrew Stunell, Communities Minister, said: “This funding will help provide sites in a way that reflects local need in consultation with the local community.
“It will assist hundreds of Traveller families to find sites where they want to live and foster better relations with the existing communities and councils.”
The money – awarded to Wiltshire Council by the Government – is the largest allocation in the south west.
Of the amount, £1.15million will be used for 20 new pitches and £2.3million is for improvements to 40 existing pitches.
Wiltshire Council will be putting in £250,000 towards the scheme.
Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council Cabinet member for development control, said the council had to provide sites for Gypsies and the travelling community by law. It currently has 102 pitches.
He said consultation was ongoing with gypsies and land owners about finding suitable sites for the 20 new pitches which would probably be on three sites.
He said one possible site could be Chelworth Lodge at Cricklade which got planning permission on appeal for a Travellers’ site.
Coun Sturgis added it was also possible that a few of the new pitches could be provided at some of the council’s existing Gypsy sites.
The improvements to 40 pitches would probably be to some on each of the sites the council owns.
These are Thingley at Chippenham (which has 23 pitches), Fairhaven, Dilton Marsh (seven pitches), Lode Hill, Downton (ten pitches), Dairy House Bridge, Salisbury (18 pitches), Oak Tree Fields, Odstock (32 pitches) and Odstock transit site (12 pitches).
Coun Sturgis said: “Where mobile homes have moved in and out there is a lot of uneven concrete.
“The surfaces are not as good as I would like to see and some of the electrical and water connections are not up to standard because they have been altered a number of times.”
He added: “It’s very good news that the Government is providing the capital money for this as we would have had to spend a large amount of our own capital. We can use that capital for something else.”
Andrew Stunell, Communities Minister, said: “This funding will help provide sites in a way that reflects local need in consultation with the local community.
“It will assist hundreds of Traveller families to find sites where they want to live and foster better relations with the existing communities and councils.”
Dale Farm Travellers face new eviction battle after moving to nearby site
The fight for Dale Farm, which saw 80 families evicted from an unauthorised Traveller site after a gruelling 10-year battle, is not over yet. Basildon council has confirmed it is set to start procedures to evict Travellers who moved from Dale Farm on to a neighbouring site.
The council said it had begun drafting enforcement notices for caravans on the "overcrowded" legal site in Essex. These are expected to be served by the end of January and would give Travellers 28 days to vacate the land.
The eviction of Dale Farm after a decade of legal wrangling saw violent clashes between Travellers, supporters and riot police. Riot police entered the site at dawn in October last year, and were criticised for the use of Tasers against protesters.
Since then many evicted Travellers have moved to other sites, but some have parked alongside roads inside the site, or on plots on the neighbouring sites, according to the council. Cormac Smith, head of communications at Basildon council, said the council was assessing how many people living on the legal site were not entitled to be there, adding that the "wheels of justice" had been put into action. He said the council estimated that around 50 caravans were either on the road by the site or on the legal site.
"The council has always said it would enforce against overcrowding on the legal site," he said. "On many of the plots on the Oak Lane site there is a problem of overcrowding."
The council was only at the beginning of a process of eviction that could take a considerable time, he said. "The wheels of justice grind slowly, and that is the case here. We are going to carry out this action as fast as we can but, as the eviction of Dale Farm showed, it can be a painfully slow process."
The leader of the council, Tony Ball, was determined that it would not take 10 years, he added. Every Traveller from Dale Farm had been offered alternative bricks-and-mortar accommodation, he said.
Candy Sheridan, the vice-chair of the Gypsy Council and a Dale Farm campaigner, said the further eviction of Dale Farm Travellers was "a total waste of money". Other sites in Essex had been identified and money to fund them was available from the Homes and Communities Agency, she added. "After the clearance of Dale Farm Tony Ball admitted there was a need for Travellers' pitches in Essex," she said. "Instead of wasting public money, if there is a need let's come to a sensible solution."
The cost of the Dale Farm eviction has not yet been calculated but a spokesman said the authority was "confident" the cost would come in under the £8m budget.
The council said it had begun drafting enforcement notices for caravans on the "overcrowded" legal site in Essex. These are expected to be served by the end of January and would give Travellers 28 days to vacate the land.
The eviction of Dale Farm after a decade of legal wrangling saw violent clashes between Travellers, supporters and riot police. Riot police entered the site at dawn in October last year, and were criticised for the use of Tasers against protesters.
Since then many evicted Travellers have moved to other sites, but some have parked alongside roads inside the site, or on plots on the neighbouring sites, according to the council. Cormac Smith, head of communications at Basildon council, said the council was assessing how many people living on the legal site were not entitled to be there, adding that the "wheels of justice" had been put into action. He said the council estimated that around 50 caravans were either on the road by the site or on the legal site.
"The council has always said it would enforce against overcrowding on the legal site," he said. "On many of the plots on the Oak Lane site there is a problem of overcrowding."
The council was only at the beginning of a process of eviction that could take a considerable time, he said. "The wheels of justice grind slowly, and that is the case here. We are going to carry out this action as fast as we can but, as the eviction of Dale Farm showed, it can be a painfully slow process."
The leader of the council, Tony Ball, was determined that it would not take 10 years, he added. Every Traveller from Dale Farm had been offered alternative bricks-and-mortar accommodation, he said.
Candy Sheridan, the vice-chair of the Gypsy Council and a Dale Farm campaigner, said the further eviction of Dale Farm Travellers was "a total waste of money". Other sites in Essex had been identified and money to fund them was available from the Homes and Communities Agency, she added. "After the clearance of Dale Farm Tony Ball admitted there was a need for Travellers' pitches in Essex," she said. "Instead of wasting public money, if there is a need let's come to a sensible solution."
The cost of the Dale Farm eviction has not yet been calculated but a spokesman said the authority was "confident" the cost would come in under the £8m budget.
Chester Gypsy camp expansion blocked
COUNCIL bosses have rejected an application involving the expansion of a Gypsy and traveller site in Chester.
The scheme had involved an application to allow more caravans on the site in Whitgates Stables, Plemstall Lane, Mickle Trafford, and to create a larger utility block.
However, Chester Villages councillor Margaret Parker had requested the issue to be debated at a Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) planning committee meeting on the grounds the development was inappropriate in the green belt.
Principal planning officer Steve Lewis told the meeting the application was in fact asking for 10 additional caravans, not five as suggested in a report.
He added: “There was no objection to the principle to retain the use of the site for a limited period. Temporary permission is considered acceptable.
“But the other aspect is the utility block. The application is for a larger utility block, in fact three times larger than the one currently on site. This amounts to inappropriate development in the green belt. The benefits were not sufficient to outweigh the harm caused by it.”
Cllr Stuart Parker said: “The utility block would probably do for 100 caravans. I support refusal. If travellers want to come and live in our area they have to abide by our rules.”
A total of 87 letters of objection had been received and Mickle Trafford Parish Council had also agreed the proposal would be “totally inappropriate”.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England objected because government documents state “applications from Travellers for development in the green belt should be dealt with in exactly the same way as applications for residential development”.
Temporary planning permission was granted in 2007 for five caravans to set up on site for a period of 12 months.
This was renewed in 2008 for a fruther period of three years, expiring in October, 2008. Permission was refused by the council in 2009 for the extension of the site for a further five caravans but was allowed on appeal until October 2011.
The scheme had involved an application to allow more caravans on the site in Whitgates Stables, Plemstall Lane, Mickle Trafford, and to create a larger utility block.
However, Chester Villages councillor Margaret Parker had requested the issue to be debated at a Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) planning committee meeting on the grounds the development was inappropriate in the green belt.
Principal planning officer Steve Lewis told the meeting the application was in fact asking for 10 additional caravans, not five as suggested in a report.
He added: “There was no objection to the principle to retain the use of the site for a limited period. Temporary permission is considered acceptable.
“But the other aspect is the utility block. The application is for a larger utility block, in fact three times larger than the one currently on site. This amounts to inappropriate development in the green belt. The benefits were not sufficient to outweigh the harm caused by it.”
Cllr Stuart Parker said: “The utility block would probably do for 100 caravans. I support refusal. If travellers want to come and live in our area they have to abide by our rules.”
A total of 87 letters of objection had been received and Mickle Trafford Parish Council had also agreed the proposal would be “totally inappropriate”.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England objected because government documents state “applications from Travellers for development in the green belt should be dealt with in exactly the same way as applications for residential development”.
Temporary planning permission was granted in 2007 for five caravans to set up on site for a period of 12 months.
This was renewed in 2008 for a fruther period of three years, expiring in October, 2008. Permission was refused by the council in 2009 for the extension of the site for a further five caravans but was allowed on appeal until October 2011.
Gypsy knifeman's bid to stay at farm - Kent
NEIGHBOURS crowded into a planning appeal to block a convicted knife thug's attempt to stay in his home.
Gypsy Wayne Willett, his partner Sheree, their two sons Wayne Junior and Billy and baby daughter Charlotte have been told to quit Tootsie Farm in Elverland Lane, Ospringe, where they live in a mobile home and a caravan.
But neighbours say the encampment has spoiled the landscape of the picturesque Newnham Valley, which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ten residents turned up at the one-day hearing at Swale Borough Council's Sittingbourne headquarters on Wednesday but only two agreed to give their names to government inspector Victor Ammoun.
One resident, who refused to be identified, said other villagers had not attended the meeting for fear of reprisals.
He told the Times: "We are against the development because it is a beautiful bit of countryside that is being spoiled. But a lot of residents felt intimidated about turning up. We feel threatened."
Mr Willett was given an eight-year prison sentence for a knife attack in the garden of the former Hole In The Wall pub in Preston Street, Faversham, in 2007.
In the same year, a government planning inspector gave the family permission to stay at the farm for two years, with an extra year to vacate the site.
Following further delays due to an appeal, their time has now run out.
Swale's planning officer Graham Thomas said the site was unsuitable for homes, adding: "We have never had so many people come to oppose a planning appeal. It showed there has been no integration between the family and the community. There is no tie connecting this family to the site.
"The fundamental issue is that this is an area of natural beauty. It is simply not right for one individual to ruin the right of a society to enjoy the landscape."
But Alison Heine, representing Mr Willett, said the family had nowhere else to go and complained that there were not enough gypsy sites in the borough.
She said a council survey in 2007 showed the need for 62 pitches, nearly double the number available.
Mr Willett, now free from jail having served half his sentence, accused neighbours and the council of treating his family "diabolically" and said they had been forced to live "penned in like animals" so as not to be seen from the road.
He added: "If we had to move tomorrow we would, but we have nowhere else to go and no money.
"Roma Gypsies get a lot of stick from the community. It judges us and tars us all with the same brush.
"In the seven years I have lived there I have never done anything to harm the community. But the neighbours act as though we are filth. They want to see us out on the street."
But Sue Gunner, chairman of Newnham Parish Council, denied the claim. She said: "We would have responded the same way to any application, no matter who was making it."
The inspector is expected to make his decision in six weeks.
Gypsy Wayne Willett, his partner Sheree, their two sons Wayne Junior and Billy and baby daughter Charlotte have been told to quit Tootsie Farm in Elverland Lane, Ospringe, where they live in a mobile home and a caravan.
But neighbours say the encampment has spoiled the landscape of the picturesque Newnham Valley, which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ten residents turned up at the one-day hearing at Swale Borough Council's Sittingbourne headquarters on Wednesday but only two agreed to give their names to government inspector Victor Ammoun.
One resident, who refused to be identified, said other villagers had not attended the meeting for fear of reprisals.
He told the Times: "We are against the development because it is a beautiful bit of countryside that is being spoiled. But a lot of residents felt intimidated about turning up. We feel threatened."
Mr Willett was given an eight-year prison sentence for a knife attack in the garden of the former Hole In The Wall pub in Preston Street, Faversham, in 2007.
In the same year, a government planning inspector gave the family permission to stay at the farm for two years, with an extra year to vacate the site.
Following further delays due to an appeal, their time has now run out.
Swale's planning officer Graham Thomas said the site was unsuitable for homes, adding: "We have never had so many people come to oppose a planning appeal. It showed there has been no integration between the family and the community. There is no tie connecting this family to the site.
"The fundamental issue is that this is an area of natural beauty. It is simply not right for one individual to ruin the right of a society to enjoy the landscape."
But Alison Heine, representing Mr Willett, said the family had nowhere else to go and complained that there were not enough gypsy sites in the borough.
She said a council survey in 2007 showed the need for 62 pitches, nearly double the number available.
Mr Willett, now free from jail having served half his sentence, accused neighbours and the council of treating his family "diabolically" and said they had been forced to live "penned in like animals" so as not to be seen from the road.
He added: "If we had to move tomorrow we would, but we have nowhere else to go and no money.
"Roma Gypsies get a lot of stick from the community. It judges us and tars us all with the same brush.
"In the seven years I have lived there I have never done anything to harm the community. But the neighbours act as though we are filth. They want to see us out on the street."
But Sue Gunner, chairman of Newnham Parish Council, denied the claim. She said: "We would have responded the same way to any application, no matter who was making it."
The inspector is expected to make his decision in six weeks.
Campaigner's Degree Helps Gypsies And Travellers Navigate The Law
A veteran campaigner for Roma, Gypsy and Travellers' rights in Derbyshire and nationally is using her University of Derby Law degree to help her communities.
Siobhan Spencer, 53, of Beeley, near Matlock, will graduate with an LL.B (Hons) Law degree tomorrow (Thursday January 19), the first of the University of Derby's two days of Awards Ceremonies at the Derby Assembly Rooms in the city centre.
She achieved her 2:1 grade after five years of part time study. Whilst on the course, in 2009, Siobhan also received an MBE for her community relations work between the gypsy and settled communities.
Siobhan says the knowledge she gained from the course is proving invaluable in her work for the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group; which she co-founded almost 25 years ago.
She has been able to help members of the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities with their legal questions; including on property and land law.
Siobhan has also begun drafting a proposed UK strategy for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities in light of the 2011 European Union declaration that all member states should produce one to show how they would work with these communities. She says that as the UK is not currently drawing up a strategy, her's would be an important reference document.
But despite her degree success, Siobhan said it was only the persuasion of Kevin Bampton, Head of the School of Law and Criminology at the University, which got her back into education.
She said: "I went to the University to speak to Kevin about organising a short course for people from the traveller community, so they could act as trainers for police and other agencies. We ended up having a long chat and he suggested I should try a Law course module myself.
"I did the Public Law 2 module and really enjoyed it, so I decided to do the whole thing.
"It was a big step as O-levels were the highest qualifications I had at that time. People from my community tend to marry early, and I was married at 17 and had four children by the time I was in my late twenties."
Over five years Siobhan stuck to the course, despite the difficulties in resuming study as a mature student with children and grandchildren to look after.
She added: "One part of the degree course I really took to though was Public Law; the ways in which ordinary people can challenge a local government decision, for example. I also enjoyed the module on Copyright."
Her degree costs were generously paid for by the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group, said Siobhan.
Kevin Bampton, Head of the School of Law and Criminology at the University, added: "Siobhan is an inspirational figure. I loved teaching her, as did my colleagues, and it is a matter of pride for us that what we have taught her will be put to good use fighting intolerance, exclusion and racism."
For more information on the University of Derby's Law courses see website www.derby.ac.uk/law
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
Siobhan Spencer, 53, of Beeley, near Matlock, will graduate with an LL.B (Hons) Law degree tomorrow (Thursday January 19), the first of the University of Derby's two days of Awards Ceremonies at the Derby Assembly Rooms in the city centre.
She achieved her 2:1 grade after five years of part time study. Whilst on the course, in 2009, Siobhan also received an MBE for her community relations work between the gypsy and settled communities.
Siobhan says the knowledge she gained from the course is proving invaluable in her work for the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group; which she co-founded almost 25 years ago.
She has been able to help members of the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities with their legal questions; including on property and land law.
Siobhan has also begun drafting a proposed UK strategy for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities in light of the 2011 European Union declaration that all member states should produce one to show how they would work with these communities. She says that as the UK is not currently drawing up a strategy, her's would be an important reference document.
But despite her degree success, Siobhan said it was only the persuasion of Kevin Bampton, Head of the School of Law and Criminology at the University, which got her back into education.
She said: "I went to the University to speak to Kevin about organising a short course for people from the traveller community, so they could act as trainers for police and other agencies. We ended up having a long chat and he suggested I should try a Law course module myself.
"I did the Public Law 2 module and really enjoyed it, so I decided to do the whole thing.
"It was a big step as O-levels were the highest qualifications I had at that time. People from my community tend to marry early, and I was married at 17 and had four children by the time I was in my late twenties."
Over five years Siobhan stuck to the course, despite the difficulties in resuming study as a mature student with children and grandchildren to look after.
She added: "One part of the degree course I really took to though was Public Law; the ways in which ordinary people can challenge a local government decision, for example. I also enjoyed the module on Copyright."
Her degree costs were generously paid for by the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group, said Siobhan.
Kevin Bampton, Head of the School of Law and Criminology at the University, added: "Siobhan is an inspirational figure. I loved teaching her, as did my colleagues, and it is a matter of pride for us that what we have taught her will be put to good use fighting intolerance, exclusion and racism."
For more information on the University of Derby's Law courses see website www.derby.ac.uk/law
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
Permission denied for Welwyn Gypsy site
FIVE Gypsy families bidding for permission to move on to land in an exclusive residential street, have been refused.
Neighbours of the site in The Avenue in the Oaklands area of Welwyn, turned up in force at Wednesday night’s meeting of Welwyn Hatfield Council’s planning committee to show they were unhappy with the proposals.
Applicant Mr Rooney wanted to bring in five residential caravans for his five children, their partners and children on to the plot.
Joseph Jones addressed the committee on Wednesday night on behalf of the Rooney family.
He said Mr Rooney had a case for “very special circumstances” for building on the Green Belt, arguing the case of the Human Rights Act and the health of the applicant’s wife should both be taken into consideration.
Resident Colin Hukin told the committee the plans were inappropriate and there was insufficient evidence to say the site was being used by Gypsies.
He added if permission was granted the council would not be able to prevent caravans moving on to neighbouring sites also owned by applicant.
As councillors discussed the application, they were heckled by some in the audience, one of whom was heard shouting derogatory slurs towards councillor Caron Juggins, who voiced her opinion.
Cllr Steven Markiewicz said the site was being used by transient workers and the site was being run as a business.
Cllr Helen Bromley added: “This is not the right way to go about getting a somewhere to live.”
Councillors voted to refuse the application by 14 votes to one, and agreed enforcement action to secure the removal of caravans from the site. This notice can be appealed within 28 days, after which the landowner has three months to comply, before the council reviews and takes “other, suitable, legal means to rectify the situation.”
Neighbours of the site in The Avenue in the Oaklands area of Welwyn, turned up in force at Wednesday night’s meeting of Welwyn Hatfield Council’s planning committee to show they were unhappy with the proposals.
Applicant Mr Rooney wanted to bring in five residential caravans for his five children, their partners and children on to the plot.
Joseph Jones addressed the committee on Wednesday night on behalf of the Rooney family.
He said Mr Rooney had a case for “very special circumstances” for building on the Green Belt, arguing the case of the Human Rights Act and the health of the applicant’s wife should both be taken into consideration.
Resident Colin Hukin told the committee the plans were inappropriate and there was insufficient evidence to say the site was being used by Gypsies.
He added if permission was granted the council would not be able to prevent caravans moving on to neighbouring sites also owned by applicant.
As councillors discussed the application, they were heckled by some in the audience, one of whom was heard shouting derogatory slurs towards councillor Caron Juggins, who voiced her opinion.
Cllr Steven Markiewicz said the site was being used by transient workers and the site was being run as a business.
Cllr Helen Bromley added: “This is not the right way to go about getting a somewhere to live.”
Councillors voted to refuse the application by 14 votes to one, and agreed enforcement action to secure the removal of caravans from the site. This notice can be appealed within 28 days, after which the landowner has three months to comply, before the council reviews and takes “other, suitable, legal means to rectify the situation.”
Traveller sites to expand after funding victory - Doncaster
Traveller and Gypsy sites are set to expand in the borough after Doncaster Council was awarded £1.44 million in Government funding.
The money, overseen by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has been allocated for 16 new pitches in Doncaster following a bid for a portion of the £60 million from the Government.
The aim is to help Traveller communities with better facilities and reduce unauthorised sites which create tensions in the community.
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said: “This funding will help provide sites in a way that reflects local need in consultation with the community.
“It will assist hundreds of Traveller families find sites where they want to live and foster better relations with the existing communities and councils.”
Mr Stunell said it would end the failed system where Whitehall attempted to dictate where sites went.
He added: “New authorised sites, with the support of local communities, will be treated on an equal footing as new bricks and mortar homes, with councils getting powerful financial benefits for building authorised sites where they are needed.”
The news comes after travellers had to be evicted from illegal Doncaster encampments twice in as many days in November.
Enforcement Officers ordered the group, who had originally arrived in Conisbrough, to leave Doncaster after a court order was taken out against them only for them in Edlington.
The money, overseen by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has been allocated for 16 new pitches in Doncaster following a bid for a portion of the £60 million from the Government.
The aim is to help Traveller communities with better facilities and reduce unauthorised sites which create tensions in the community.
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said: “This funding will help provide sites in a way that reflects local need in consultation with the community.
“It will assist hundreds of Traveller families find sites where they want to live and foster better relations with the existing communities and councils.”
Mr Stunell said it would end the failed system where Whitehall attempted to dictate where sites went.
He added: “New authorised sites, with the support of local communities, will be treated on an equal footing as new bricks and mortar homes, with councils getting powerful financial benefits for building authorised sites where they are needed.”
The news comes after travellers had to be evicted from illegal Doncaster encampments twice in as many days in November.
Enforcement Officers ordered the group, who had originally arrived in Conisbrough, to leave Doncaster after a court order was taken out against them only for them in Edlington.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Video link-up on horse fair - Seamer
SEAMER Horse Fair came under discussion at a video conference meeting between Scarborough councillors and their counterparts in Horsmonden, Kent.
The link-up came about following a suggestion from a member of the public, who had heard about an annual horse fair in the village.
Cllr Helen Mallory, chairman of Seamer Parish Council, said the meeting at the Town Hall had gone very well.
Those present at either end of the video link included Borough councillors, parish councillors and police officers who normally deal with the horse fairs.
Cllr Mallory said: “It was a good chance for us to share experiences and it was quite informative.
“All parties found it very interesting. However, in Horsmonden the fair is just one day, and many of our issues in Seamer and Crossgates relate to more than one day.”
She added that more detail about the discussion will be available at the next meeting of Seamer Parish Council, which will be held at the Memorial Hall in Seamer on February 2 at 7pm.
Cllr Mallory said that all those involved with to do everything they can to help residents in Seamer and Crossgates.
She added: “We are interested in talking to anybody who can give us any help of information which will benefit our residents.”
Seamer Horse Fair takes place in July each year, with travellers staying in the area for up to two weeks.
Horsmonden Gypsy Horse Fair is around 400 years old and takes place on the second Sunday in September every year.
The link-up came about following a suggestion from a member of the public, who had heard about an annual horse fair in the village.
Cllr Helen Mallory, chairman of Seamer Parish Council, said the meeting at the Town Hall had gone very well.
Those present at either end of the video link included Borough councillors, parish councillors and police officers who normally deal with the horse fairs.
Cllr Mallory said: “It was a good chance for us to share experiences and it was quite informative.
“All parties found it very interesting. However, in Horsmonden the fair is just one day, and many of our issues in Seamer and Crossgates relate to more than one day.”
She added that more detail about the discussion will be available at the next meeting of Seamer Parish Council, which will be held at the Memorial Hall in Seamer on February 2 at 7pm.
Cllr Mallory said that all those involved with to do everything they can to help residents in Seamer and Crossgates.
She added: “We are interested in talking to anybody who can give us any help of information which will benefit our residents.”
Seamer Horse Fair takes place in July each year, with travellers staying in the area for up to two weeks.
Horsmonden Gypsy Horse Fair is around 400 years old and takes place on the second Sunday in September every year.
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