New travellers’ site revealed after plans spark outcry

Selby District Council had earmarked a site in Brotherton for the scheme, which is part of a wider updated local development framework for Selby and could see as many as 20 caravans built on the chosen plot.

But the decision provoked a storm of criticism from residents who complained they had not been consulted properly and delivered a petition of around 1,000 signatures to a meeting of the full council on Tuesday night.

As a response to the public outcry, councillors have decided to grant full planning permission to the landowner of the Brotherton site to use it for storage instead of a travellers’ site so it has now been withdrawn.

And Selby District Council yesterday announced it will instead be looking to build the caravan pitches at Whitley, one of the original four sites proposed after being whittled down from 60 in the biggest public consultation the area has ever seen.

The council has also confirmed it will now be setting up a cross-party task and finish group to see if there are any better sites as it undergoes the latest round of consultation for its plans for Whitley which will last 10 weeks.

Coun Chris Metcalfe, who represents Selby district on North Yorkshire County Council, said: “Over the next 10 weeks there will be an evaluation of new sites that are coming in.

“New sites are being presented to us all the time and absolutely nothing is set in stone.

“I can understand the public perception that we are changing sites but this is moving fast.”

Coun Metcalfe also said due to new Government guidelines, the council would be obliged to look for a new travellers’ site again in five years time, if the demand was there.

Stephanie Gilbert, chair of Brotherton Parish Council, said: “We are relieved and pleased, but I would not want any other area to go through what happened to us.”

Meanwhile, Harrogate Borough Council has announced it is looking at building a travellers’ site for up to 15 plots as part of its new house-building consultation, although no sites have yet been identified.