'We've got enough gipsy pitches here'

Nov 19 2008 By Ed Saunt, Staines News

Proposals to site up to 16 new gipsy and traveller pitches in Spelthorne have been met with short-shrift by the borough council.

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) suggested locating between 11 and 16 new plots in Spelthorne by 2016, but councillors were advised by officers to reject the plan at the executive meeting last night (Tuesday) and recom-mend no new pitches be provided.

Spelthorne is currently home to two gipsy camps - a council-managed site of 10 families in Littleton Lane, Shepperton, and a private site in Hithermoor Road, Stanwell Moor, which accommodates some long-term families in static homes but also has eight plots for transit families.

The proposed 16 new pitches would represent a 40% increase in travellers in the borough - a figure that Spelthorne council-lors and residents say is too high.

Spelthorne Council leader, John Packman, said: "Travellers have never been a big issue as far as Spelthorne is concerned because we have provided the facilities that are required.

"But it's very much a case of providing sites where they are needed and we think the number of sites we have is sufficient for the needs locally."

Anthony Lewis, of Hithermoor Road, Stanwell Moor, said the site in the village has caused very few problems but warned against any significant expansion.

"We haven't had any trouble with the lot up here - they all seem to want to fit in okay," he said.

"But I would be wary about making this one any bigger or sticking new sites in all over the place.

"I mean who really wants a big traveller site at the end of their garden? It's not them causing any trouble I'm worried about - it's the cost. Who's going to pay for all the schools and doctors they need?"

SEERA's consultation into the proposals closes on Friday at 5pm. Anyone wishing to give their views should visit www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/consultations.html