New plan to stop illegal gipsy sites in Telford
Nearly 150 illegal gipsy sites have been set up in Telford in the past two years, it has been revealed.
Council chiefs say the sites have had a "significant" impact on homeowners and business bosses close to them as well as costing huge amounts to move them on.
Now they are proposing to spend £170,000 to create extra plots on the council's permanent gipsy and traveller site in a bid to try and eliminate the problem.
The council's ruling cabinet will meet tonight to discuss plans to create an extra 11 plots on land adjoining the existing site at Lodge Road, Donnington Wood. If it gets the go-ahead it will replace a temporary transit site at Snedshill, where planning permission runs out in December this year.
Council chiefs say the creation of the temporary site has had a massive impact in cutting down on the number of illegal encampments and say that is borne out by the figures.
The statistics reveal in 2013 there were 101 encampments and 358 caravans, in 2014 there were 27 encampments and 652 caravans, and this year so far there have been 13 encampments and 27 caravans.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for housing, public health and public protection, said: "We have experienced substantial numbers of unlawful gipsy and traveller encampments, which have had a significant negative impact on the residential and business community.
"The costs are significant but the temporary Snedshill facility has enabled the council, in partnership with police and other agencies, to address the issue and use powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994."
A popular site for illegal encampments is near the M54's Junction 4, near to the Welcome Break service station.
The scheme will be funded from the re-phasing of the council's existing capital programme for development, business and employment.
