Beighton Lib Dems voice opposition to Traveller Site proposal

Beighton Liberal Democrats have expressed their opposition to the proposed traveller site rear to Springwell Grove. 

The proposals form a part of the draft Local Plan, which went out for public consultation on the 9th of January, after a meeting of the whole council voted to make it public in December. 

Cllr Kurtis Crossland, Lib Dem member for Beighton, said "I want to make it clear that, alongside Cllr Ann Woolhouse and Cllr Bob McCann, we do not support these plans, and we were not involved in drawing up these plans. 

The Local Plan was put together by the Labour chaired Transport, Regeneration and Climate committee. Other sites had been proposed such as in Deepcar and Hesley Wood - both Labour controlled wards. Labour councillors for these wards pushed to locate the site in Beighton instead. This isn't just about the proposed site, it's also about the Labour Town Hall forcing things onto communities with poor consultation.  

The whole Council voted in December to make the Local Plan public, which of course it should be, not to support it wholesale. Now it is finally out for consultation after 10 years, we are able to legally oppose these proposals. 

Living locally myself, I know firsthand this will cause problems with traffic. Traveller and travelling showpeople sites have worked well in other places, but I don't believe they would work in Beighton.

I urge any residents who have concerns to make a representation here, and to fill out our survey that you should receive today."

The Local Plan consultation runs until the 20th of February. Residents can make representations online, and drop in events will be running across the city.