PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for a gypsy/traveller caravan site at Orford – despite objections from 14 nearby residents.
Members of Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee unanimously voted to approve the development, off Sandy Lane West.
Officers had recommended the scheme be approved and councillors agreed after hearing that a similar scheme was refused by the council in 2008 but allowed on appeal the following year.
Up to eight caravans will be allowed in the grounds of Brook House – a large dilapidated house which has stood empty for years. It is not proposed that the house be occupied as part of the plan.
The committee heard that the inspector who held the inquiry expressed the view that because of the rundown condition of Brook House and its grounds, a gypsy site offered an opportunity to improve the local environment.
The objectors claimed the development would lead to increased traffic, highway and access dangers, noise, loss of privacy, drainage and sewage problems, smells and the possibility of the number of caravans being increased later.
But planning officers said the proposal was acceptable in principle and would help meet a need for gypsy/traveller accommodation in Warrington.
The proposal would have no harmful impact on the amenities of nearby properties and the impact on the highway network would be acceptable.
After the meeting, Cllr Nigel Balding, Conservative, said: “Warrington desperately needs a travellers transit site which is owned and operated bythe borough council. It is something which has been in our local plan for many years and it’s a requirement passed down from central government.
“Unfortunately the council has been ducking the issue, resulting in frequent unauthorised encampments in inappropriate locations causing conflict between travelling and settled communities.
“Neighbouring Halton has demonstrated how successful an authority-owned transit site can be with their site located near the border with Warrington. This has drastically reduced Halton’s issues and clean-up costs from unauthorised encampments.
“When a local authority runs its own public site, travellers can be directed from unauthorised encampments to that site by the police if necessary.
“It’s very sad that, as an authority, we’ve not yet met the need for traveller accommodation. It follows that there is huge pressure to accept all private traveller accommodation applications.
The Sandy Lane site does not seem ideal, and has been rejected in the past, but without adequate provision by the council there is little justification for saying ‘no’.”
