Plans for over 120 Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Wiltshire progress

This means that it is recommended that the final sign off be given at the full council meeting at the end of February.

Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, February 4, cabinet member for strategic planning Cllr Nick Botterill described it as “one of the most difficult issues” he had been involved in with the council.  

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Two of the residents opposing the plans. (Image: Wiltshire Council) The document lays out how the council will provide 128 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and 9 plots for travelling showpeople by 2038.

Site intensification has been proposed in locations such as Chippenham, Semington, Southwick, and Devizes.

New sites have been suggested in Bushton, Edigonton, Cleverton, Rowde, and Upper Seagry.

Cllr Botterill said: “The aim of having an up-to-date Gypsy and Traveller plan is to bring some certainty and control to this process in the future.”

A group of residents from Upper Seagry and Little Somerford attended the meeting to voice their concerns.

Emma Sorrell, a trustee of the Goss Croft Community Hall, said that the village hall was only financially viable through wedding bookings, for which the main selling point is the surrounding views that, she argued, would be negatively affected by a Gypsy and Traveller site.

Geoff Minshell claimed the plan was “unsound”, “undeliverable”, and “not fit for purpose”.

Cllr Botterill refuted his statement and maintained that “careful consideration” of “every single site” had been given by officers.

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Cabinet member and deputy leader Cllr Laura Mayes spoke in opposition of the plans, representing the views of Rowde Parish Council.

She said that the inclusion of the Rowde site in the plan would be “a sad loss to the area”.

She added: “I, like the members of the public here, disagree with allowing the inspector to choose the sites.”

Council leader Cllr Richard Clewer recommended that residents with planning-related evidence of why the suggested sites should not be included should take it to the planning inspector.

He said: “I do not see how holding back here helps.

“I think the only way that we have to go forwards to try to address this issue of sufficiency and supply – and I think it has got to be addressed – is the route we are looking at.”

Wiltshire Council has a legal responsibility to plan for the accommodation needs of the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The plan will go before the full council on Tuesday, February 25.