Anger over new travellers' site plans (From Gazette Series)

Anger over new travellers' site plans in South Gloucestershire

8:20am Thursday 25th June 2009 in News By Ali Dent

PEOPLE campaigning against a travellers’ site between Wickwar and Rangeworthy have been left horrified after another 27 acres of land was earmarked for gypsies.

The Hall End Action Group (HEAG) was set up to fight a planning application for five caravan pitches at Homefield but members have found themselves leading a campaign against another site for double that number, on Tanhouse Lane, just one mile away.

Chairman Chris Jones said: "It is unbelievable. Residents have already offered to pay £600,000 for the land but that was turned down by the landowner because they can get more money turning it into a travellers’ site.

"That is the reality of this situation."

Mr Jones, whose father’s estate borders the site, said news that the council was considering the land as a travellers’ site had come as a complete surprise last week.

Karen and David Powell, who bought adjacent Leechpool Dairy Farm as their family home two years ago, said they were devastated.

If the proposals for 10 residential pitches and two transit pitches, which could total 70 caravans, go ahead the couple would be living next door to one of the largest travellers’ site in the whole of South Gloucestershire.

Mrs Powell said: "The council wants sites that are sustainable so people can walk to shops and the local school.

"But there are no lights on this road. Children would be walking in the dark in the winter and that would be highly dangerous.

"Increasing the number of residents on this road will result in fatalities."

South Gloucestershire Council announced it was considering the site, along with six others in the Yate area, in addition to 17 other sites which are already being investigated under the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan.

Residents in Iron Acton breathed a sigh of relief after proposals for between four and six pitches on Dyers Lane were withdrawn late last week.

The new list is in response to an appeal for landowners to come forward and follows a Government directive for the council to provide 78 new pitches by 2011.

A spokesman for the authority said: "Between November 2008 and January 2009 the council held a public consultation which set out its first thoughts on potential sites around the district which could be suitable.

"During the consultation landowners submitted other possible locations for pitches to the council for consideration.

"The council is now publicising these sites so local residents are aware they have been put forward.

"It is important to stress that these new sites are only suggestions at this stage."

* A drop-in consultation event is being held at Yate Leisure Centre on Monday (June 29 4-8pm) and all responses must be submitted to the council by July 13. Visit www.southglos.gov.uk/gypsydpd for further information.

* The action group is set to attend the council’s planning committee meeting in force today to find out if permission for the site at Homefield is granted. The group is holding a public meeting to discuss the Tanhouse Lane site this Sunday (7pm) in Rangeworthy Memorial Hall. The group is hoping to draw support from the neighbouring communities of Brimsham Park and North Road in Yate. Visit www.hall-end.co.uk for more information.