28th September 2011

BRIDPORT: Concerns over gypsy site plans

By Tom Glover

A LEADING town and county councillor fears that Bridport could soon be faced with its own “Dale Farm” if plans for proposed gypsy and traveller sites get the go ahead.

All Dorset planning authorities are working together with the Dorset County Council to produce a Development Plan Document (DPD) that will allocate permanent and transit sites to meet the county’s needs for the next 15 years.

West Dorset District Council (WDDC) met yesterday to endorse the planned public consultation process later this year – when local people will have the chance to give their views on suggested sites.

Over the last year, consultants Baker Associates have been working to identify and assess potentially suitable locations against strict criteria, before drawing up a shortlist of options for each council.

The draft DPD has shortlisted 12 potential sites, including Bridport’s Lilac Farm, which has previously been rejected as a site for the Waste Transfer Station.

Bridport Town Councillor Karl Wallace said: “It’s ridiculous, I don’t know why they just keep pushing this forward. When that site was proposed for the waste transfer station it was rejected due to the dangers of access and egress, surely that still holds true for a travellers’ site?”

The DPD estimates 20 residential and 22 transit pitches need to be found in West Dorset to accommodate the travelling community. However, the report suggests West Dorset would have to look at green belt land for more potential sites to help meet growth over the next 17 years.

In recent weeks the issue of traveller sites has hit the headlines with the ongoing high profile eviction of residents at Dale Farm traveller site in Essex.

Councillor Wallace fears that Bridport could see scenes similar to those at Dale Farm, if the proposed sites get the go ahead and are not then managed properly.

“We have to make sure we don’t have another Dale Farm on our hands, because we have all seen what has been happening in Essex,” he said.

“We need to have reassurances that this site won’t expand and get out of control. If travellers do move in they would need to become part of the local community and not alienate themselves, and that would include paying their taxes.

“We don’t want it to become another Dale Farm, it needs to be discussed properly with all the relevant councils. That means Loders Parish Council, Bothenhampton and Walditch Parish Councils and Bridport Town Council, and then we need to have a public consultation to see if this is actually what the people want.”

WDDC are the first of Dorset’s six borough and district councils, plus the two unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, to consider the DPD.

If members approve the consultation, local residents, businesses, interest groups and travelling communities will be invited to find out more and have their say on the potential site options for each area. A series of public exhibitions are planned, supported by an online questionnaire and comments form.

Robert Gould, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for environment, said: “This issue presents challenges for us all but we cannot solve the ongoing problem of unauthorised camping and development unless we have a planning policy that gives greater certainty for both settled and travelling communities.

“By working in partnership with all Dorset councils I hope we will be better placed to identify the best possible locations for sites that will help to meet the needs of gypsies and travellers who move across local council boundaries.”

BRIDPORT: Concerns over gypsy site plans

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