Unused Telford travellers' site to stay open

The site, in Snedshill near the Kiyokuni Europe building in Telford, can accommodate up to 29 caravans. But it has been empty for at least six months, a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee was told at The Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington on Tuesday night.

The site was created two years ago as a stop-gap measure while a new permanent fixture was being extended at Lodge Road in Donnington.

The Snedshill site was meant to shut today, with the land becoming available again for business use.

But delays to the completion of the Lodge Road site led to an application to the planning committee to extend the life of the temporary site to February next year.

It was approved, with only one committee member, Councillor Ian Fletcher, voting against.

Fellow committee member, Councillor Kevin Turley, claimed the presence of the temporary site had played a huge significant part in cutting down on the number of illegal encampments in the borough.

But Councillor Fletcher said: "The existing site up at Snedshill I understand has been absolutely empty for at least six months, so I can't see the point in extending it any further."

"I really don't see the point in extending it for another three months, although I expect it will be approved."

Letters about the plans were sent out to 300 neighbouring properties and 15 letters of objection were received. Complaints included its impact on local residents and businesses, property prices and already oversubscribed schools and GP surgeries.

Also at the meeting, councillors approved an application to extend the site at Lodge Road to allow 22 more caravans onto the site. One letter of objection was received from a neighbour.

A report which went before the planning committee said: "Planning permission was granted in December 2013 for a gipsy and traveller transit site (at Snedshill) for up to 29 caravans across 15 pitches.

"Planning permission was granted for a temporary two-year period with the site being returned to its previous condition by December 18, 2015.

"A full planning application has been submitted for the creation of a new gipsy and traveller transit at Lodge Road in Donnington, with the intention that the Lodge Road site will effectively replace the temporary site at Snedshill.

"Due to delays with the Lodge Road application coming forward this planning application seeks to extend the period before the Snedshill site must close by three months – until February 2016 – to allow the Lodge Road site to be constructed and made available."