Neighbours raise concerns over traveller sites plan

Residents have objected to a plan to put a temporary travellers site in a Derbyshire town.

Dozens of people in Wirksworth turned out to voice concerns at a public meeting and said it was “unsuitable” for people to live there.

Derbyshire Dales District Council is consulting on plans to potentially allocate six sites across the area for 15 travellers.

Joanna Green, a resident who lives close to the proposed site said: “A permanent site is needed, it’s not fair on these people to move them all of the time.”

The Gypsy and Traveller Working Group – made up of four councillors from different political parties – have held a series of meetings across the district to ask people their opinions on the sites.

These are:

• Car Park, Old Station Close, Rowsley

• Land south-east of Hopton Works, Middleton Road, Wirksworth

• Arc Leisure car parks, Morledge, Matlock

• Station Yard car park, Dale Road, Matlock Bath

• Car park, Derwent Way, Matlock

• Land north-west of New Road, Middleton

A traveller family - to whom the council owes a legal homelessness duty - have been living in a section of the district council's station car park in Matlock for the past four years, councillor Marilyn Franks, the chair of the working group, said.

She added the council has hired a land agent to try and find a suitable permanent site and that the work is "ongoing".

The Progressive Alliance – made up of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green councillors which run Derbyshire Dales District Council - pledged to “finally tackle an issue previous administrations had struggled with for decades”.

Councillor Peter Slack, who represents the town on the district council, said finding suitable land for travellers on permanent basis has been difficult for many years.

He added the proposed location in Wirksworth is "not fit for purpose".

"We've been trying for a long time to get a permanent site, a number of sites have been nearly there but slipped away," he said.

"Wherever we go, people object to them... it's been extremely difficult."

Elisa McDonagh, the mayor of Wirksworth Town Council, also spoke in opposition to the site.

"The geography of the space is not safe for the traveller family," she said.

"At present, there are no utilities on site and in our experience the land often has flowing surface water during wet weather.

"The site is adjacent to the entry to Stoney Wood, and by many residents it is seen as an extension of the woodland owned by the Town Council which provides an important community green space."

Joanna Green, a resident who lives near the proposed site said: “My main concern is the health and safety of the travellers – the road where the site would be is the national speed limit – it’s a fast road with a bend."

A council spokesperson said: "The main focus is identifying appropriate permanent sites - and that process is well under way - but in the meantime we need to find temporary options to relieve the pressure on encampments that are currently tolerated due to the legal position, especially the one in Matlock Bath's station car park.

"We want to stress however that no decisions have been made on any of the possible six temporary sites. The series of meetings was about council leaders and members listening to what local people had to say."

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