Published date: 02 June 2016 |
Published by: Mike WilliamsRead more articles by Mike Williams Email reporter
The existing site on the A5025.
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a permanent traveller site on Anglesey have been approved.
Council bosses gave the green
light to a permanent residential area for new age travellers at Penhesgyn during a meeting of the Executive on Tuesday.
light to a permanent residential area for new age travellers at Penhesgyn during a meeting of the Executive on Tuesday.
Anglesey Chief Executive, Dr Gwynne Jones, said: “The county council has a duty to provide official sites to accommodate gypsies and travellers.
“Dealing with gypsy and traveller sites is always going to be a controversial and sensitive issue, but it is one which the council must address.”
The decision came after the council first tried to give official status to an existing layby on the A5025 between Menai Bridge and Pentraeth without consultation earlier this year.
It prompted accusations of “cloak and dagger” tactics and the authority responded by holding a large and comprehensive consultation of possible alternative sites on the island.
sites on the island.
Seiriol ward Cllr Carwyn Jones said: "I welcome the unanimous agreement from the officers and the Executive that the unauthorised site along Pentraeth road, which has been occupied since 2007, was not suitable as a permanent site.
“After our intervention as Seiriol Ward councillors back in February, the response from Anglesey Council shows how much this authority has matured.”
Anglesey Council is legally required to assess and meet the accommodation needs of the gypsy and traveller communities.
A Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment idntified that Anglesey should have one permanent residential site and two temporary stopping places.
The council is now proposing to relocate four new age travellers currently living on the unauthorised encampment on the A5025 to the approved site.
It will also undertake further investigative work to confirm the suitability of the site.
to confirm the suitability of the site.
Talks with the owner of an adjoining field will be held with a view to its purchase to create an access
, before a planning application can be submitted.
, before a planning application can be submitted.
The council-owned land at Penhesgyn will now be included in the Joint Local Development Plan as a possible allocation to meet their accommodation needs.
An additional report presented to the Executive concluded that none of the temporary stopping places currently on the table were suitable.
Fresh consultation outlining proposed new sites for temporary stopping places will be launched today (Thursday).
see-http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/162740/plans-approved-for-permanent-traveller-site-on-anglesey.aspx
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