IT’S crunch time for contentious plans to allocate land in Whitehaven for use as a gypsy and traveller site.

Local Authorities are required by law to meet the housing needs of all residents, including those who identify with the gypsies, travellers and travelling show people.

Copeland Council must therefore allocate a piece of land in its Local Plan for use by gypsies and travellers.

The search was narrowed down to sites in Whitehaven: land north of Greenbank and land at Sneckyeat between the industrial estate and Cumbria Sports Academy.

The public have been asked to comment on the potential sites in a consultation.

Whitehaven Town Council objected to both sites at a meeting in April, voicing the opinion that a more rural area would be suitable.

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Town councillors Edwin and Gemma Dinsdale and resident Ian Thomason have launched a petition against both sites with a turnout from the public expected at meeting of Copeland Council next Wednesday.

The meeting will be D-Day for the emotive issue as the council will be asked to move forward with just one site: Sneckyeat.

Mr Dinsdale said: “I can’t see why they’d want to place this site in what is the highest populated area in Copeland, I think it would benefit both parties (the settled and traveller communities) in a more rural area.”

He said that the land at Sneckyeat is a former landfill site which he believes will be more costly to the council in the long-term.

Mr Dinsdale asked why the Lake District National Park has not been considered.

Councillor David Moore, one of Copeland Council’s executive members said: “The Local Development Framework Panel have looked at the two options and consultations for both sites and they’ve decided now the one Copeland will go forward with is the Sneckyeat site.”

A vote will be taken on the recommendation from the panel, which if approved, would mean that a consultation is launched on the Sneckyeat allocation, giving the public a chance to have their say on whether it is suitable as a gypsy and traveller site.

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Council will also recieve Mr Dinsdale's petition, signed by 967 Copeland residents.

Cllr Moore said: “There was a call put out for gypsy and traveller sites, and we’re not giving the land away it would then have to be purchased, but that call got us nothing so now the only option we’ve had is for council owned land.”

Copeland Borough Council will meet to discuss the Local Plan amongst other issues affecting the area on Wednesday July 6, 2pm at the Copeland Centre.

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