MP demands immediate stop to travellers’ sites consultation

A NORTH Yorkshire MP has accused council chiefs of scaremongering and urged them to halt a public consultation on controversial plans for travellers’ sites that may never be built.

Nigel Adams, Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, told the Yorkshire Post he believes the district council should put a stop to its plans, where one out of 60 sites across the area will be chosen as a pitch for up to 20 caravans, after raising the issue at Prime Minister’s Question Time yesterday.

Mr Adams says David Cameron told him the obligation on councils to provide travellers’ sites was part of the Labour government’s regional spatial strategies, which are soon to be scrapped, and a consultation on the methodology behind providing travellers’ sites was soon to be launched.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following the Prime Minister’s comments, Mr Adams said the council’s consultation on travellers’ pitches – which is part of a wider updated local development framework – should now come to a stop.

“They have jumped the gun with this consultation and potentially causing a lot of unnecessary concern”, he said.

“This is a huge consultation exercise and has upset a lot of residents.

“They should stop the consultation with regards to travellers’ sites not in terms of the development sites and employment areas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Given the fact that the government has indicated it is going to start consulting on this shortly, why not wait before making a decision?

“The district council is upsetting a large swathe of Selby residents in the process.”

The proposals have provoked a furious reaction among residents.

About 300 written objections have already been submitted and more than 600 signatures have been collected on a petition in one village alone.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At a meeting organised by Brayton Parish Council at Brayton Community Centre last week, more than 400 residents turned up at the hall – which has a capacity of 250.

Another public meeting over the proposals is being held by Burn Parish Council at Burn Methodist Chapel tonight.

As a consequence of the huge response across Selby, the district council has now announced it is extending the consultation for another month until the end of April.

Chris Phillipson, vice chairman of Burn Parish Council which already has a travellers’ site in its area and has been highlighted for three further potential sites, said: “We very much welcome Mr Adams’ comments.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Now the time period has been extended, we hope the district council can see the light and will put a stop to this.

“We would be reassured to see they have stopped it completely or suspended this until they know what action the government will take.

“We already have one site that is successfully integrated into the community but that does not mean we necessarily should have another.

“The worries that we are hearing are right across the district.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The contentious proposals follow research that shows there is a need for extra travellers’ pitches across North Yorkshire.

Travellers have said a shortage of pitches is a real problem.

A spokeswoman also urged people not to be negative about their community.

Council officers have said the site should not be a flood risk, or on green belt land, and needs to have good access to main roads and bus stops as well as being with walking distance, just over a mile, of villages.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Selby District Council has stressed no planning applications have been submitted and it is just the first stage in an exercise to find possible sites.

Councillor Mark Crane, leader of the council, said, “The whole point of the consultation is to seek people’s views. The more you have your say, the better this document is at reflecting your needs and aspirations.”