Update on land allocation for Gypsy and Travellers

The proposal would see additional pitches created to accommodate caravans and associated amenity space. At this time the District Council were considering three new potential sites for additional pitches.  These were:

1 – Chestnut Lodge at Barnby: a private landowner has put forward some land which could provide 20 pitches.

2 – Belvoir Ironworks: land available for sale to the District Council which could provide 30 pitches.

3 – Trent Lane, Newark: land available for sale to the District Council which could provide 19 pitches.

A report, due to be presented to the District Council’s Cabinet Meeting on 12 July, will recommend that the proposed Trent Lane site is not deliverable for Gypsy and Traveller use.  Subject to the agreement of Cabinet, the site will therefore be withdrawn from the remaining sites being considered for allocation for Gypsy and Traveller use.

The District Council intends to present its overall strategy for meeting its future Gypsy and Traveller needs in September.

Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council said, “We are committed to ensuring that we plan for the future needs of our Gypsy and Traveller communities, with new site allocations being a part of our overall strategy over the coming years.  While finding land around the Newark area is difficult, we will not stop until our obligations are met and the publication of our ‘Amended Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document’ in September this year will outline how we will meet that need.

“I want to make two things clear.  Firstly our Gypsy and Traveller communities have been here for generations and they are integral to our community.  Just like in all community groups and estates, law abiding residents are unfairly tarnished with the brush of a few. Gypsies and Travellers are, and will remain, an important and welcomed part of our district’s make-up.

“Secondly, I want to reiterate my messages to the Gypsy and Travellers living on the Winthorpe site.  Despite the ruling by the Planning Inspectorate, we will not be enforcing the requirements of the notice until such a time as we have concluded the proposed work on meeting our future gypsy and traveller needs and therefore you are not required to move from this site now.  We will be publishing a full report on this later this year, including our intended Development Plan.”

Further information on the allocation of land for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, including a video from Councillor David Lloyd, is available on the District Council website.