Travellers’ site plan raises interest

THOUSANDS of residents have responded to Selby District Council’s controversial plans for a new travellers’ site – in the biggest reaction to a consultation ever seen in the area.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Apr 2011, 09:54 BST

About 2,000 residents responded to the consultation, which ended last week, over plans to build a pitch for as many as 20 travellers’ caravans in one of 60 plots.

The council says it will now draw up a list of preferred sites.

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This will in turn be put out for consultation later this year – and then be considered by councillors.

Councillor Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council who lives near to one of the proposed sites, welcomed the reaction to the consultation, which is part of a wider updated local development framework for Selby.

“We have not had such a huge response before”, he said.

“The fact of the matter is, travellers need to be housed somewhere and there is clearly the need for extra pitches in Selby.

“We accept there is a need for one more site.”

Council officials admit that the entire consultation and planning process will take about 18 months before the new travellers’ site is built.