Anger and relief as site selection made
The selection of the three sites was met with anger by some but others were relieved.
Sutton Bridge district and parish councillor Chris Brewis reacted angrily to the decision to select the land off Centenary Way, Wingland, Sutton Bridge, as the temporary travellers' site.
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He said: "A very strong argument was put forward as to why it was the least suitable of the eight sites.
"I question the ability of the cabinet to make any decision. They are the laughing stock of the county and this will only make that worse."
Coun Brewis said he now expects a public meeting to be called and will wait to see what the reaction is but he assumes that people will be vehemently against the decision.
He said: "I expect that people will react as robustly as the citizens of Sutton Bridge do more than anywhere else in Lincolnshire.
"I don't imagine for a moment that the council will have a free run for planning on this site and I will be very surprised if there is ever a temporary site off Centenary Way.
Chairman of Holbeach Parish Council planning committee Terry Harrington said the site west of Holbeach on the A151 was not popular with travellers, who had said in a parish council meeting they would not use it.
He said: "I never thought that site would ever be considered in the scenario – it's a blot on the horizon.
"We will look at it professionally but if there is something we are not happy with then we will be objecting. We will look at the plans and I am sure that we will be writing accordingly."
Traveller John Smith, from Cowbit, attended the meeting in the council chamber and was not happy with the decision.
He said: "Spalding Drain Bank would have been the better decision. There are already travellers there. They are out of the way and the access is easy.
"I don't particularly want to go to any of the three that were selected.
"Obviously if we don't like the final choice, we will speak up about it but if we do like it, then everyone will be happy.
"The other travellers' reaction to the decision will be the same, I'm sure."
Alan Kembell, of Mill Lane, Tydd St Mary, was satisfied with the choices but insists the site near him should never have been in the final eight.
He lives within eyesight of the site and said: "Contamination from a pond there was a real threat. There have been no end of accidents on that road.
"My son-in-law was almost killed not so long ago. The way the council went through the process at the meeting was good and they did the best they could."
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Weather for Spalding
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
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