Proposed Travellers sites at Love's Farm

Mon, 05/07/2010 - 20:42 — MartinSearle

You are probably aware that in June last year central government "called for sites" for Gypsies and Travellers. Sites were subsequently submitted which include two sites in St Neots.

The first of these referred to as SNE1 is on land immediately next to occupied housing at Loves Farm (to the east and near  Priory Hill).  It is clear from recent discussions with residents that there is little if any awareness of this proposal.

The second site SNE2  being proposed is on the area referred to as Wintringham Farm which is owned by the Nuffield Trust & Diocese of Ely. This is the area extending south of Cambridge Road (opposite Loves Farm) to the Tesco/Little Barford roundabout in Eynesbury.  Currently there already exist 20 Gyspsy/Traveller pitches in this area (off Cambridge Road).

We currently have 20 pitches already. A further 9 pitches next to residential housing Loves Farm /Priory Hill, a further 10 pitches south of Cambridge Road and 33 pitches being proposed beyond what is called the plan period. 

This gives St Neots proposed and existing Gypsy & Traveller future pitches in total of up to 72.

St Neots already has by far the largest provision in the District of such sites.  Other areas of the District have already placed strong objections to further pitches and St Neots neighboring areas of South Cambridgeshire and North Beds have already rejected further provision.

If you would like to express your views on the above then send your comments via http://consult.huntsdc.gov.uk/portal . You should also e-mail ldf@huntsdc.gov.uk .

 

13 July 2010
 
 
HUNTINGDONSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S CLARIFICATION OF POLICY REGARDING GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES
 
 
Huntingdonshire District Council has welcomed the government’s action last week to revoke the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England. This means that imposed targets for such matters as housing and the provision of sites for gypsies and travellers will be removed.
 
Now local authorities will be responsible for determining the right level of provision for their local areas. Councils will be required to bring forward plans reflecting local need and historic demand
for such provision. For the Council to allocate no sites, as some have suggested, it would need to demonstrate that there is no need. With the current level of applications, temporary sites and planning appeals this will clearly not be possible or sustainable.
 
We are aware that a number of communities in the district have been pressing the council to take a lead in finding appropriate sites as they are concerned that unmet need will simply result in even more speculative planning applications on unsuitable sites.
 
Following the announcement by Eric Pickles, the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, members and officers of Huntingdonshire District Council met with Shailesh Vara MP to discuss the current consultation which is looking at pieces of land which may be suitable for gypsy and traveller sites and outline the shape of further consultation.
 
Following these discussions it was agreed:
  • No predetermined number of sites will be taken forward.
  • The views of residents will be fully taken into account and considered
  • At the end of the current consultation the council will pause to fully evaluate responses and reassess the current position in line with other local authorities who have already completed their consultations
 
 
 
HUNTINGDONSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S CLARIFICATION OF POLICY REGARDING GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES/2
 
  • No decisions will be made until the Council receives clarification of any further changes to national legislation and planning policy guidance
  • All decisions will be taken by elected members through the appropriate panels of the council. 
 
Steve Ingram. Head of Planning Services, said: “This statement from the new Secretary of State is very helpful as it clarifies that local authorities will now have more discretion to deal with these challenging issues based on local circumstances.
 
Feedback from the current public consultation will be valuable in helping to assess if the temporary sites or any of the new ones being put forward are potentially suitable”
 
Doug Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy said “I welcome this announcement by Eric Pickles. We have been arguing for a long time that provision should be driven by local need rather than government targets. I would like to thank the public for all their input so far. The whole point of this exercise is to take account of public opinion. I would also like to thank Shailesh Vara MP for meeting to help agree a way forward that reflects the public interest and benefits the people of Huntingdonshire “
 
The current consultation, which runs until 30 July, is looking at sites as being potentially suitable to help meet the local need previously identified. This consultation is very much a first step in a lengthy process, and public consultation will be carried out at each stage. If alternative sites for gypsy and traveller pitches are identified in the meantime they too will be considered.
 
 

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