Travellers pour scorn on "super site" claims (Hinckley Times Jan 9 2009)

Travellers pour scorn on "super site" claims

Jan 9 2009 by Sam Dimmer

A LEADING group of travellers have poured scorn on claims that proposed super-sites around the borough could house hundreds of people.

A leaked document had suggested that a number of travellers’ sites could be built in places like Earl Shilton and Groby – although council chiefs have said that the full proposals have not been finalised, and a full consultation will take place before any decision has made.

Some reports have suggested that a proposed 10-pitch site in Groby, and a 12-pitch site off Thurlaston Lane in Earl Shilton, could provide room for hundreds of travellers.

But at a meeting of the Leicestershire travellers’ liaison group, those claims were dismissed – and suggestions that each pitch could have room for five caravans were mocked because it would create a fire hazard.

Now group leaders are focus­ing on trying to increase the number of pitches in the area, and they are keen to ensure that any new sites are small, and manageable.

They say that around 100 travellers’ pitches have been lost in the last two years, and nothing has been done to rectify the situation.

Sites in Ratby and Coalville have closed recently, and Alfie Kefford, who runs Rosevale Park in Aston Firs, has been forced to extend his site.

Mr Kefford said: “The council are not supplying any sites – I’m having to put up money just to give people a home.

“Otherwise where would they all go?

“If I shut down there would be 55 families on the road, and there’s no provision for them anywhere.”

He went on: “Until sites are provided travellers are going to buy up their own land and put in for retrospective planning permission.”

The leaking of the document, which suggested that sites in Desford, Cadeby, Newbold Verdon, Hinckley, Stoke Golding, Earl Shilton and Groby are being considered, has created controversy in the borough.

Several meetings have been held and a number of action groups have been set up to oppose any moves to place travellers’ sites near homes.

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