HBBC Letter to Groby Residents (Trevor Prowse Director of Community and Planning Services) 15/12/08

[Admin]

Please ask for: Trevor Prowse
Direct Dial: 01455 255934
Direct Fax: 01455 890229
Email: trevor.prowse(~hinckIey-bosworth.gov.Uk
Your ref: Hincidey &Bosworth
Our ref: TMP/CMWI 51 208 B ~-‘ ‘~
Date: 15 December 2008 orougit ~ounci
A Borough to be proud of

All Householders in Groby and Ratby


Dear Resident

PROPOSED TRAVELLERS’ CARAVAN SITE AT GROBY

I hope that you will forgive my writing to you, but I am aware of considerab!e
concern being generated in Groby, arising from the premature, misleading
and inaccurate circulation of information suggesting (incorrectly) that a
decision has been made “in secret” about a transit site in the village.

The Council’s Chief Executive has already responded personally to a number
of email enquiries and has asked me to write to all householders in the village
to clarify the position. If you have already received a response to your enquiry
from the Chief Executive, please regard this as supporting information.

The Chief Executive is also referring the conduct of Councillor Batty to the
Council’s Standards Committee because of the incorrect and inflammatory
nature of the information he is circulating, which is bringing himself and the
Council into disrepute and is not representing the community in the most
positive manner.

Every local authority in the country is required to identify those sites in the
area which are being proposed for housing provision, including making
provision for the needs of gypsies and travellers. In respect of gypsies and
travellers, this authority is required to allocate sufficient sites for 42 permanent
pitches, 3 pitches for show people and I transit site (comprising up to 10
pitches).

Officers have been working with Councillors for sometime to try and identify
suitable sites, with the aim of presenting the Site Allocations document to
Council on 20 January 2009 for approval to consult. As I am sure you will
appreciate, there have been many discussions between officers and
Councillors which resulted in a confidential workshop being held on
20 November 2008. A set of suggestions was presented to Councillors for
discussion, which did include a proposal for a transit site at Groby. For clarity,
a transit site generally comprises up to 10 pitches (maximum 2 caravans per
pitch under current Government guidelines) and is used for the temporary
residence of travellers. The provision of a transit site also enables the police
to move on illegal encampments much quicker than they are able to do
currently. They are generally managed and controlled by the local authority or
a Housing Association. Occasionally, they are managed by a member of the
travelling community.


Page 2


The information was provided on a confidential basis, for discussion at the
workshop. Unfortunately, that information has been widely circulated and is
causing considerable and understandable anger and concern amongst those
who consider that decisions have already been made and work commenced.
I can assure you that this is not the case; this is very much work in progress.
Those Members who have properly maintained confidentiality to avoid
misunderstandings are now able to speak on the matter locally, recognising
that internal discussions still continue.

Can I now explain the proper process and timetable. At Council on
20 January 2009 a Site Allocations document will be presented for approval to
consult. If approved, that document will be subject to 6 weeks public
consultation, during which time individuals (including yourself), Parish
Councils and other organisations will be able to submit their comments for or
against the proposals. Once that 6-week consultation period is completed, all
comments will be considered and a document produced which will be
submitted to the Government in September/October 2009.

That document will be subject to a public examination and
approval/amendment by a Government Inspector in the Summer of 2010
before it is ultimately adopted towards the end of 2010.

I do hope that the above information provides you with the reassurance that
you need that no decisions have yet been made on the location of sites for
travellers within this Borough and that there will be opportunities for your
views to be formally considered before a final conclusion is reached towards
the end of 2010.

I cannot, however, guarantee that between now and the end of 2010 planning
applications for travellers’ sites will not be received and these will have to be
considered through the normal planning process. However, once adopted,
the Site Allocations document will provide this authority with the evidence to
resist the establishment of such sites in any locations other than those
identified within the document.

I trust that this information is of assistance and fully explains the current
position. Please ensure that you submit your comments (if you wish to) on
the Site Allocations document once it has been approved for consultation by
the Council on 20 January 2009. Information on how to respond will be
posted on the Council’s website (www.hinckley-bosworth.cio.uk) on
27 January 2009.

Yours sincerely


-






TREVOR PROWSE
Director of Community and Planning Services

[Admin]

Your letter posted on Friday did nothing to assure us whatsoever, infact it was very concerning. We pay a lot of money to you in council tax and for what?

From a resident in the forgotten village (until now) of Groby .

Sender email address: NEV****D@ntlworld.com

[rong]

Microsoft Office 2010 Professional ted on Friday did nothing to assure us whatsoeve

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