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Council rejects gipsy site shortlist
10:15am Friday 4th July 2008
Comments (2)SECURITY guards were on standby last night as North Wiltshire District Council met to discuss a controversial shortlist for a permanent gipsy and traveller site in the district.
But the six security guards, two Police Community Support Officers and extra council staff were not needed to control the crowds, who breathed a sigh of relief as the council's executive committee voted to reject all six shortlisted sites.
More than 100 people filled The Olympiad Leisure Centre to hear the news that potential sites in Chippenham, Calne and Wootton Bassett were being scrapped.
North Wiltshire District Council's lead member for housing, Howard Greenman, said: "It has been torturous for many people and there has been a dark cloud hanging over many communities.
"But tonight all of you should get closure. With this six-week consultation we have tried to be as clear and transparent with you as possible.
"Some information we believed to be set in stone on April 24 we have since dismissed. I would like the communities of each site all to be able to draw a line under what they have been through in the last six weeks."
But some members of the public were worried the Government would step in and demand a site in North Wiltshire.
Leader of North Wilts Dick Tonge said: "There is a feeling if the sites are not produced in the long term the Government could come in heavy handed with us and we have no choice. However, that is just my view."
But Cllr Greenman added: "They wouldn't have a leg to stand on."
Cllr Greenman refused to reveal any details of any private sites that were had been submitted during the consultation citing it would be unfair to the landowners who may not know their land was under the microscope.
Councillors said they planned to challenge central Government on the number of sites demanded in north Wiltshire, which currently stands at 48, the criteria they were based under and ask for gipsy sites to be considered in other parts of the county.
Sites included in the shortlist, all of which were in public ownership, included Long Close, Hardens Mead and Stanley Lane in Chippenham.
Your Say YourWiltshire Times
Necker, Trowbridge says...
12:07am Sat 5 Jul 08
How much was spent processing and dealing with this whole fiasco.
Our taxmoney spent on projects and excercises the taxpayers do not want.
Have you ever heard of anything so anti-community in your life?
Driven by community elected officials too.
Well done to all concerned this time round.
Cllr Greenman refused to reveal any details of any private sites
Its not quite finished then, still some little secret things bubbling in the background.
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chris, melksham says...
11:35am Fri 4 Jul 08