At the moment there are seven ‘legal’ pitches for travellers in our district (assume that 1 pitch = space for 2 caravans).
The District Council is being required to provide a total of eighteen pitches, so it has to find eleven more. They have come up with seven options, soem of which are very small. Five are in the Rawreth/ West Rayleigh area, and two are in Hockley.
Options GT1 and GT2 : “This site is located to the direct east of the A1245 Chelmsford Road, and just
south of Rawreth Lane. The settlement of Rawreth is geographically located
just north of the site thus providing the ability for the site to relate to other
developments. The site is located within good proximity to the highways
network, although access to the A1245 would need to be negotiated carefully. Option 2 is at the same location as option 1, but slightly bigger, neaning it could take all 15 pitches.”
“Option GT3 is south of the London Road Rayleigh, and between Little
Wheatleys Chase to the east and St Johns Drive to the west. This would offer
the potential for increased community cohesion and integration into other
settlements. The site is also located with good access to the highway
network, and thus good access to services in the town centre. However there
are several pylons located within proximity to the site thereby constraining any
residential settlement which would need to be accounted for.”
Option GT4 is very small: “This site is located off Plumberow Avenue in Hockley and is in a residential
settlement, with woods to the west of the site. The site is integrated into
residential settlement promoting community cohesion. The size of the site
may not be appropriate in terms of contributing to the overall gypsy and
traveller accommodation target however. There is suitable access to the
highways network from this site, with Hockley Rail Station at the southern end
of Plumberow Avenue and Spa Road and Main Road just south of this.”
Option GT5 : “This site is located to the west of New Park Road, and to the south of
Cavendish Road in Hockley. The site is likely to be unable to support the full
allocation of 15 additional pitches. The site does however integrate well into
the existing residential settlement. The site has good access to the highway
network.”
Option GT6 : The site is located directly north of the A127 Arterial Road and is west of the
A1245. To the west of the site is the A130. Being located in such an area
would mean that access to these main routes would need to be negotiated
carefully. However the site being located here means that there is excellent
access to the strategic highways network. The site is located however some
way from any residential settlement which would result in a distinct isolated
community and lack of community cohesion. The site would have the
capacity to support the full allocation required.
Option GT7: This site is located to the south of Goldsmith Drive, and to the west of
Hullbridge Road in Rayleigh. The site is likely to be unable to support the full
allocation of 15 additional pitches. The site does however integrate well into
the existing residential settlement. The site has fairly good access to the
highway network.
After these options the Council’s consultation document asks the question: “Are these the best locations to consider? Should any other locations be
considered? Should the Gypsy and Traveller pitch allocation be located on one site or distributed over several?”
cmmunity cohesion, integration??!!! who are these ‘planners’ trying to kid? Gypsies/travellers whatever they wish to call themselves do nothing to integrate with local communities. Have the lessons not been learnt from the debacle of Crays Hill? Please lets not see large sites that merely create ‘no go’ zones allowed. Its still’PC’ to be seen bending over backwards to provide pitches??. I firmly believe that in the 21st century a’traveller’ status is a lifestyle choice and given laws that apply only to them. I may be controversial but I’m fed up with these parks appearing with bungalows and sheds , these clearly are not portable.
The site GT4 has had in the past a “Travelling Family” there for about a year, It was deemed in breach of planning laws and they were removed and the site reinstated at cost we were told to the public purse.
Concerns of the local residents were one of sewerage, there was non and no attempt was made to instal any. Cohesion into the community did not take place, their way of life was totally different to those they had placed themselves among. To be PC is ok for those who are not directly affected by this type of person. If Councils/ Goverments wish to go down this line can I suggest they first check what the real aims of the travelling community are before they provide sites for them.
If the council were to refuse to provide gypsy pitches, what would happen?
Sean, what would happen is that travellers who acquired a piece of land would probably get planning permission on appeal…
If travellers choose to live a non-permanent lifestyle why should they be entitled to land in residential areas if they do not subscribe to the building and planning regulations the rest of us must adhere to. Temporary use of designated land should incur a deposit large enough to put to rights what we generally see when land is vacated, such as the deposits our offspring pay (in excess of rent and utilities)to live in temporary accommodation, within London or the suburbs, to guard against them ‘trashing’ their living space.
The only social cohesion these individuals contribute is the strength of feeling against them when they do not wish to become added value members of our society.
Social cohesion,what a joke. They do what they want, when they want and, if anyone complains, we are accused of discriminating.
An example – we had 2 “gypsy type” horses just left on land within Rawreth Parish on friday – they said their horse box had broken down! This was a dangerous thing for the horses and traffic as it was beside the busy A1245 – an accident waiting to happen as the site was not secure. They later remedied this by putting barbed-wire (totally illegal) up across a gateway. We have fought tooth and nail over the weekend to get these removed legally and, thank goodness have succeeded – they were removed yesterday.
These people have no thought or care for anyone else or their property and think it is their right to do whatever they like.
This is why we don’t want their illegal site in Rawreth and we certainly don’t want it doubled in size if RDC gegt their way.