Outcry over Wyre Forest gipsy site proposals

More than 400 angry protestors crammed into a meeting over plans for gipsy and traveller sites in Wyre Forest – and heckled councillors, who let only five of them speak.

Controversisal proposals to allow travellers and gipsies to set up home on up to 15 sites across the district have been put forward, sparking public outrage.

Campaigners were warned at the start of last night's special overview and scrutiny committee meeting at the Civic Centre in Stourport that they would be removed if they "misbehaved or argued".

Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet will tonight face round two of the battle.

Members will decide whether to put forward all or just some of the proposed sites out for a full public consultation.

Seats for 300 people were put out at last night's meeting –? and all were filled.

A further 100 people packed into a nearby room, listening to the discussion through a speaker system.

The council says it needs to identify a total of 43 more pitches for gipsies and travellers by the year 2022, as well as a site for travelling showpeople.

A total of 145 potential pitches have been identified on 15 different sites at Bewdley, Blakedown, Clows Top, Cookley, Fairfield, Kidderminster, Wilden, Stourport and Stone.