'Unsafe' access could foil traveller site plan near Spalding
Numerous objections to a proposed Gypsy camp in Spalding have forced officers to recommend that their own council's scheme be dropped.
The application for a camp off the A16 could be thrown out tomorrow by South Holland District Council's development control committee because accessing the site from an existing layby is "unsafe and unacceptable".
After a lengthy search last year the council chose the 2.64 hectare parcel of land as suitable for a permanent Gypsy site with ten pitches, each to accommodate up to three caravans.
But numerous objections have led the council's own officers to recommend planners refuse change of use.
Lincolnshire County Council's highways department has lodged strong objections to the scheme, saying access to the site from the back of the existing layby is "unsafe and unacceptable" and that there is no practical means of turning round for drivers.
It also raises concerns about no provision for safe pedestrian access.
If the site went ahead the county council believes it would cause unnecessary and uncustomary crossings of a main road network.
There were also objections from members of the public and landholders regarding security, highway safety, the site being detrimental to visitors and the loss of high quality land.
The county council conservation group also objected while South Holland Internal Drainage Board said written consent would be required to pipe or fill part of the roadside drain to widen the layby access.
The report to district councillors tomorrow concludes: "The application has attracted considerable objections, mainly from people or organisations with interest in the area, raising numerous points for concern.
"These have been fully considered but in this case the two key issues are highway safety and landscape impact.
"Notwithstanding that this is a proven need for such sites, allied in part to the discontinuance of unauthorised sites elsewhere in the district, officers must conclude that highway objections represent overriding reasons for refusal."
The council wants to create one temporary and two permanent camps for travellers in South Holland to meet demand for pitches.
Last month plans for a site off the A151 at Holbeach were approved and the council intends to move travellers there from an illegal site in Cranmore Lane.
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Weather for Spalding
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
