A planned two-year Traveller site is set to be approved in Peak District village car park, despite nearly 100 objections from residents, a charity and the county council.
The plans, from Derbyshire Dales District Council, would see the Old Station Close car park in Rowsley turned into a temporary plot for a specific homeless Traveller family for up to two years.
District council officials have recommended that the plans are approved at a meeting on Tuesday, June 24, with the site limited for use only between March and October.
In December, councillors agreed to earmark the site as a temporary tolerated plot and to file an application to allow one specific family to use it for up to two years – while the long-running hunt for a permanent location continues.
The site is already in use by one of the homeless families, who identify as Romani Gypsy.
Opposition against the Rowsley scheme includes objections from The Level Centre – a disabled artists charity – Derbyshire County Council, Rowsley Parish Council and 92 residents.
The Level Centre, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in April, stressed that their opposition was based on the loss of car parking spaces opposite their facilities, which they feel would unfairly disadvantage their clients, many of whom have mobility difficulties.
Rowsley Parish Council, in a council report ahead of next week’s meeting, object to the removal of car parking spaces needed by local business, lack of information and detail, impact on the Level Centre and White Peak Loop cycling and walking trail, along with anti-social behaviour and safeguarding concerns.
The county council’s strategic planning department details that it “strongly objects” to the plans due to their “wholly unsuitable location”.
It claims: “The proposed use of the site could impact adversely on the delivery of the White Peak Loop scheme, which is a key priority for the county council and an important tourist facility in the county.
The county council also says efforts to improve the appearance of the site are not sufficient, with fencing having the effect of isolating the family, with further concerns about the lack of a soft play area for the Traveller family’s children.
Support has been given to the application by the Gypsy liaison officer for Derbyshire, Dr Siobhan Spencer, who detailed: “The Travellers are willing to reside at Rowsley for the summer again and reiterate that they would prefer a site in the south of the Derbyshire Dales.”
The district council has received 125 letters from residents, with 92 objecting, 31 offering a general view and two supporting the plans, it details.
These objections focus on the loss of parking, impact on The Level Centre and other businesses, road safety close to the A6, discouraged use of the cyclepath/footpath, loss of tourism, anti-social behaviour, inappropriateness of the lot, and safety and hygiene issues.
County and district councillor Sue Hobson, wrote: “The woefully inaccurate planning application submitted by DDDC consultants to their own planning department inspires no confidence to either the Traveller families themselves who are in need of appropriate accommodation, or the residents and businesses of Rowsley and the wider community.”
District council officers, recommending approval, wrote: “Officers therefore would argue that the location caters to many of the needs of the Travellers and that in terms of balance this outweighs the disadvantages of the site especially given the temporary nature of the proposal and the consequence of lack of provision through not allowing this use.
“Officers therefore consider that the needs of the Travellers have been suitably considered along with the planning merits of what is a temporary and entirely reversible planning permission.
“The two-year period also provides an opportunity to assess the impact of the use in itself whilst providing traveller pitches whilst more permanent sites are sought elsewhere within the borough.
“Officers note that linkages between the loss of car parking spaces and adverse impact on local businesses as well as the Level Centre can occur, however with the additional albeit limited car parking at the level centre (3 spaces including 2 disabled) officers are satisfied that there is sufficient car parking spaces to accommodate the needs including disabled car parking spaces.
“As such officers cannot agree with the wider concerns that a loss of car parking spaces overall would adversely impact on the local businesses nor the wider ranging highway safety concerns.”
In May, the district council approved another of its earmarked temporary sites, on the Matlock railway station car park off Derwent Parade.
