Seven gipsy sites planned for South Staffordshire

A six-week public consultation is under way about the introduction of new gipsy, traveller and travelling show people sites across the area.

But three locations are earmarked for Essington which could add to the four existing sites in the village.

In total the council has identified seven locations across the district.

By law it has to find 33 pitches over the next 14 years.

These include land at Hobnock Road; Broad Lane and Long Lane in Essington.

Two are proposed for Middlehill in Shareshill, another in Ball Lane, Coven Heath as well as a site at Glenside, Dark Lane, Slade Heath.

The plans have been met with fury by Essington Parish Council Chairman David Clifft who accused the authority of putting more 'unwanted developments' in the north of district.

Councillor Clifft said: "When I saw these plans I was staggered. There are already four existing gipsy sites in Essington and it can't handle any more.

"Three would have a major impact on the village and one of these proposals is at a locations that had an application refused as recently as this year by the council.

"It always seem to be the north of district that get unwanted developments. We have crematorium then there is the incinerator at the Four Ashes. It appears anywhere south of Bilbrook or Codsall doesn't get looked at."

He added: "I am concerned that should the consultation get support from the district then it will add weight to any future applications going in for sites in Essington."

South Staffordshire Council said that that identified sites were made available by land owners.

Councillor Bob McCardle, South Staffordshire Council strategic chief, said: "By law all councils must plan for the housing needs of their residents in the years ahead, including the gipsy and traveller community.

"To meet this need, we are about to go out to public consultation from October 13 to November 24, on a document with a list of all possible sites where these pitches could go.

"All current sites in South Staffordshire are private and not council owned, as this is the preference of the gipsy and traveller community. Similarly all of the proposed sites for the consultation have been put forward by willing private landowners, so inclusion of any site in the document is not an indication of council support for the site.

"Once the consultation launches, we want to hear what our residents think and will consider their views, which must be submitted in writing, alongside our own site selection criteria, to draw up a list of preferred sites for approval by councillors."