Don’t turn Towton battlefield into travellers’ site, campaigners demand

Around 28,000 people died in the Battle of Towton during the Wars of the Roses and villagers are concerned about the impact of the plans for the site, at The Gallops, Main Street, Towton, near Tadcaster. A planning inspector ruled in 2009 the land was suitable to be used as a temporary travellers’ site and now landowner Reginald Robshaw wants permission to use the site permanently.

Officers are recommending the application is approved but concerns have been raised by a number of opponents including Towton Parish Council about the possible damage to its historical integrity.

In a report to be considered by Selby District Council’s planning committee tomorrow, the parish council warns: “The site of the application lies c100 metres outside the current boundary of the historic battlefield of Towton. The battle of Towton took place in 1461, involved very large armies and was the bloodiest battle to have occurred on British soil.

“Research is still ongoing and, as a result, the exact boundaries of the battlefield are still not yet fully defined; indeed, there is a distinct possibility that the area of land owned by Mr Robshaw may prove to be germane to part of the battle.”

Coun Peter Jesty, chairman of Towton Parish Council said yesterday he was particularly concerned the site was in the green belt.

He also said local people would not be in this position had enough designated sites been provided for travellers locally.

By yesterday 138 people had objected to the proposal on the council’s website.

They include Frank Langcaster, who said: “This is one of the most important battle to have 
been fought in this country but one of which we know little about at the moment – it should therefore be preserved in its entirety until fully investigated in the future.”

Joe Anderson added: “Towton battlefield is an extremely important historical site on which the archaeological survey is incomplete. It probably also holds hitherto undiscovered war graves.

“Much has been done in recent years to highlight battlefield’s importance and bring it to public awareness and ensure its preservation. Making this or any other planning permission in this area permanent can only be harmful to this unique site in the light of these considerations.”

Members of Towton Battlefield Society have written to the committee to warn that: “It has been formally recognised that the battlefield boundaries need to be extended.”

The society says that in 1996 mass graves were discovered at nearby Towton Hall.

It also says a report by Dr Glenn Foard, a battlefield expert, in 2010, commissioned by English Heritage, recommended further evaluation of the site.

Councillors will be told, however, that English Heritage has been consulted and it does not object to Mr Robshaw being given permanent permission to keep two caravans on the site.

It says this will not cause an unacceptable “degree of harm” to the significance of possible heritage assets on the application site.

Officers are recommending the application is given the go ahead when councillors meet tomorrow.

The report concludes: “Weighed against the harm to the green belt it is considered that substantial weight should be afforded to the issue that there is a general need for additional gipsy sites in Selby and the absence of alternative sites for the traveller community.”

It adds that “substantial weight” should also be given to the health benefits of offering a permanent site for travellers and the issue of human rights, particularly those of children living on the site.