‘Forensic examination’ urged over travellers’ pitches plan

Selby District Council’s executive has agreed to push ahead with the proposals to build pitches for as many as 20 travellers’ caravans on four potential locations.

The debate over where the pitches will be located has provoked a public outcry, and the Tory MP for Selby and Ainsty, Nigel Adams, admitted the topic had led to the greatest amount of correspondence from his constituents.

Mr Adams has called on Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who will have the ultimate decision over the proposals, to consider the planning strategy extremely carefully owing to the mass of public opposition.

He added: “It is clearly a contentious issue, and one which has generated a great deal of concern. It is absolutely crucial the Government examines the proposed document in a forensic fashion, which I am sure will be the case. The public will no doubt want to have a further say on the plans, and I would urge as many people as possible to engage with the council during the planned consultations.”

The travellers’ pitches would be created under the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD), which identifies locations for potential development in the Selby district. The council is choosing between four potential sites at Brotherton, Kellington, Whitley or Hillcrest on the former A1 near Monk Fryston.

The choices have been whittled down from a possible 60 following the biggest public consultation the area has ever seen. The draft SADPD will go before a full council meeting in the autumn, before a 10-week public consultation is held. The details will then be sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government to seek the approval of Mr Pickles.

The council’s executive agreed last Thursday to move the SADPD on to the next stage. Members also reviewed the methodology behind identifying sites and agreed with the approach set out in the document.

A council spokesman stressed any development would still be subject to the normal planning process. He added: “By no means does this mean that development will definitely happen at particular sites – there’s a long way to go before we get to that.”