Cottingley Springs Decision Day looms!

Cottingley Springs

We are waiting for the decision from the Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP on the planning application to extend Cottingley Springs Travellers site. The decision, which has to be made on or before 16th February, follows a controversial public inquiry into the application held last year.

My colleague - Cllr Bob Gettings - who attended the public inquiry with me last year is hopeful that the Secretary of State will back local communities and refuse the application to extend the site. Many of the Travellers on the site have backed the refusal campaign as they also believe that extending the site will mean it becomes too large and problems will therefor increase. The public inquiry received evidence from the City Council that 35 alternative sites were considered but rejected. A close analysis showed that these alternative locations were entirely suitable for smaller,  family based Travellers sites.

The Secretary of State Eric Pickles will receive a recommendation from a Planning Inspector about the expansion plan but will use his own powers to make a final decision. He has refused all similar applications over the last 8 months and many campaigners expect a similar decision over the next week.

My colleague - Cllr Wyn Kidger - who campaigned on the Valley Road Travellers site issue - says “It is accepted by many people, including many Travellers families, that alternative smaller family sites across the Leeds City council is what is required to reduce the problems of unauthorised Travellers sites. We hope that Eric Pickles will make a decision that reflects this view and refuses planning permission to extend Cottingley Springs travellers site.”

The Labour Council is likely to fail with this campaign of theirs to extend the Cottingley Springs site. It has little support within the Travelling Community and failed on most – if not all – relevant planning grounds. They will have wasted thousands of pounds of council tax payers money and probably lost a £1 million grant purely because they wanted to avoid using any of the 35 alternative site identified by the public inquiry because they were in wards represented by Labour Councillors. This will need to change and Eric Pickles is likely to send them that clear message over the next week.