Councillors invited to suggest potential gypsy and traveller sites in their wards
Councillors have been invited to suggest suitable residential sites in their areas for gypsy and travelling communities.
Work has been going on for several years to identify and develop new gypsy and traveller sites in Stafford Borough. The authority also plans to refurbish an existing caravan site at Glover Street, near Stafford town centre, where there has been a waiting list of families hoping to move in.
But on Tuesday Councillor Gillian Pardesi questioned the progress being made at a scrutiny meeting.
A report to the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee said timescales would be agreed once milestones were set.
It added: “Consultants (are) progressing with a Gypsy and Traveller Needs Assessment. Officers continued work to identify a new gypsy site to deliver future need.”
Councillor Pardesi said: “I understand we are working to identify a new site and OK, we have been in the Covid-19 situation. But that’s something we keep seeing regularly, as if we are kicking it into the long grass.
“Is there an update on the Glover Street situation? Gypsy and travelling communities should be welcomed in any ward and have a right to set up in any ward where it is appropriate.”
Karen Tierney, head of development at Stafford Borough Council, responded: “We are still searching for a site – Covid-19 has impacted on our ability to do that but we are picking up with it. It is a challenging issue.
“In terms of Glover Street we hit barriers in terms of securing planning consent, in relation to some objections from the Environment Agency. We are continuing to work through those and we will hopefully have an update in the future.”
Councillor Jeremy Pert, cabinet member for community and health, said: “It would be useful if all members looked in their own wards and recommended sites to see if they would fulfil requirements.
“We have brought forward new sites – the St Alban’s site is being developed and there are now 10 pitches which are available on St Alban’s Road.”
But Councillor Jack Kemp said: “I don’t think any councillor is going to come forward with any site in their particular ward. They may offer sites in other people’s wards but I very much doubt they will offer one in their own.
“I would say to Karen and the team we wish you well – keep looking.”
In November 2019 Stafford Borough Council granted permission for a gypsy traveller family to site caravans on land near Eccleshall once occupied by a telephone exchange site.
The family had previously tried to find another site in Stafford Borough, but the closest one they could find was in Tamworth, a design and access statement said. It added that there was an identified need for more new pitches for the gypsy and travelling community in Stafford Borough.
Councillor Andrew Harp said: “It seems that the travelling people seem to be there long before we are in finding sites. I wonder how far behind the chase is the borough?
“This has been going on now for the last 13 years and we are still no further forward than we were at the beginning. We have all these excuses and nobody has come up with anything. It is time we have got to dig our heels in and do something about it.”
