Two travellers' sites in Newark have had planning permission extended for three years
that's despite warnings over flooding that could be a danger to life
Two travellers’ sites in Nottinghamshire have had planning permission extended for three years – despite warnings over flooding being a danger to life.
The adjacent sites in Newark were discussed during the planning committee meeting on February 15.
But Newark Town Council and the Environment Agency objected to both applications on the grounds that the high risk flood area poses “a danger to life”.
An application asked that Park View Caravan Park in Tolney Lane be made a permanent fixture.
The applicants asked that their site be made permanent – but said they would be satisfied with a temporary extension to the permission.
Councillor Sue Saddington (Con) said:
“The people who live down there know the danger of flooding, it’s not new and they are well used to the fact that they may have to move off.
“We do need the extra pitches and I am happy to support the amendment in order to give them some security.”
But councillor Robert Crow (Con) added:
“I am uneasy with this application because of the flooding and the loss of life it could cause.”
He said he would support the amendment for planning permission to be granted temporarily.
Councillor Laurence Gough (Lab) said:
“This has been a long growing frustration for the travelling community at Tolney Lane.
“They’ve got children and we don’t want them living on the side of a road.
“We all know the council always do their best to help the travellers when there is a flood. They’ve always evacuated in time and they have always saved lives.
“Nobody has ever died down there.”
Planning permission was unanimously granted on a temporary three-year basis and the Chair of the meeting councillor Roger Blaney (Con) added: “Let us hope within that period this council can find the appropriate number of places and move forward on that basis.”
Newark and Sherwood District Council needs to provide 77 traveller pitches by 2024 and 118 pitches overall.
Councillors also discussed an application for an adjacent site at Shannon Falls in Tolney Lane.
The Environment Agency issued a “strong objection” to the plans for 13 pitches and amenity blocks.
The temporary site has been in existence since May 2021 and the amenity blocks have already been built, meaning the planning permission was retrospective.
Council officers recommended that the application be refused, but councillors put forward a new plan for the permission to be extended on a temporary basis for three years.
Councillor Saddington said: “They need amenity blocks and I can’t really see why this is going for refusal.
“Where are they going to do the things they need to do in amenity blocks if we don’t allow them? That is going to cause a problem.”
Councillor Gough added: “These families have got nowhere to go. You want them on the streets or the bypass to get even worse and be killed?
“These people know the situation down there. Tolney Lane has been there for years and the council still allows people to live down there.
“If they are so concerned for the travelling community, when are they going to put a more suitable place for them to live? This is an ongoing problem every year.
“They want to have the right to choose their way of life. We aren’t going to treat them like second class citizens.”