The petition contained more than 1,200 signatures and follows a series of full capacity meetings at which Lakes Estate residents expressed anger at the closeness of the proposed site and the potential disruption to local services, schools, housing provision and public safety. Cllr Reg Edwards said that in conjunction with residents of the Lakes Estate he would do all he could to prevent the proposed travellers site being built near the estate. They ll be like lambs to the slaughter, said Cllr Edwards. The closeness is the main issue. It s only 50 to 70 metres from the estate.
People are very angry.
He claimed the earmarked land at the former Jubilee brickworks was already allocated for housing and employment in the Local Plan. It would be pointless proposing the land for development when it s already spoken for in the housing plan. To add travellers would be another issue that would require more policing, he said. Roy Marples of the residents association agreed that the closeness of the proposed site was the main problem. They can get from one site to the other just like that.