Residents say site isn’t right for Gypsy camp

Sep 26 2008 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

LAND in Frodsham earmarked by planners as a “suitable” permanent campsite for Gypsies and Travellers, is “more appropriate” for a medical centre, public swimming pool or affordable housing for first-time local buyers, say residents.

The suggestions appeared in completed questionnaires returned to Frodsham Town Council who canvassed residents' views on Vale Royal Borough Council’s proposal to put a campsite on land off Ship Street.

Residents were also asked if they knew of any other locations in Frodsham that might be a suitable alternative and came up with 14 suggestions, including land in Bridge Lane, Greenfield Lane, Frodsham Marshes, Kingsley Road, Mill Lane, Tarvin Road – and even Frodsham Hill, Castle Park and the field behind Frodsham Community Centre in Fluin Lane.

A total of 280 households responded, and all but seven declared strong objections to the Ship Street proposal. And the town council this week submitted its formal objection to Vale Royal.

“I promised the people of Frodsham that our response would be based on their views and there was an overwhelming feeling against this proposal,” said Mayor Cllr Pammi Taylor.

Cllr Taylor said she was “surprised by the extent and depth of feeling against the proposal”, but that residents’ responses had also shown them to be “very caring”.

“They are actually concerned about the welfare of Gypsies and Travellers, as well as their own residential areas,” she said.

The town council considered a suggestion that a final decision on the siting of a new Gypsy and Travellers site – which the borough council must provide in Vale Royal – should be deferred until the new Cheshire West and Chester Council takes over next year.

Town Councillor Andrew Dawson, who is a member of the new shadow authority, said: “It makes sense for the new council to deal with it. To force through a piece of work like this at this late stage of Vale Royal Borough Council strikes me as somewhat daft. We need to get the right decision, rather than a rushed decision.”

However, the town council voted against pressing for deferral.

Town and Vale Royal Borough Councillor Brian Lloyd said: “If this isn’t sorted it will increase the chance of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites, and the sooner we resolve this problem the better.”

Town Councillor Tony Hinkins said: “The town council consultation was extremely thorough. A lot of people have responded to it and we’ve got a very clear result.”

The town council has included a summary of its own public consultation in its objection to Vale Royal Borough Council.

It says the consultation “underlines the unsuitability of Ship Street as a potential G and T site, which it claims would go against planning policies contained in the Vale Royal Local Plan, and would be “detrimental to the surrounding area and result in loss of amenity to adjacent properties.”