 Travellers' Transit Site On the A47 East of Wansford Peterborough City Council have now withdrawn their decision. The Travellers' Site will not be created and all public meetings have been cancelled. |  (Stock Photo) |
Introduction On Monday 6th October 2008 two city councillors took an "executive decision" to create a transit camp for travellers on the A47 east of Wansford. The purpose for creating the site was to deter travellers from setting up temporary camps elsewhere in Peterborough. The councillors who took this decision were Sheila Scott and David Sanders. An executive decision is one that involves no public consultation or involvement. Castor News understands that although other sites were available in the city, the site near Wansford was chosen for financial reasons only. This is because the Highways Agency has offered to transfer the land to the City Council free of charge. Castor News is alarmed that such a major decision could be taken without proper public consultation. This is a view that is echoed by our ward councillor John Holdich and Cllr Yvonne Lowndes who have immediately "called in" the decision. This means that the whole decision process will be examined by the Council's Scrutiny Committee. A campaign to oppose the decision is being coordinated by Tim Pearson, Chair of Wansford Parish Council. Updates 16-10-2008 Following this morning's statement from Cllr Murphy, Tim Pearson Chair of Wansford Parish Council has been in touch with Castor News. In a statement, Tim says "We are pleased to learn of Peterborough City Council's decision to withdraw the decision to establish a Travellers Transit Site at the drivers' rest stop and picnic site on the old line of the A47 at the A1 junction East of Wansford. (The new information from the Highways Agency is that they had not given the land to Peterborough City Council !). During the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire interviews last Tuesday I stated that I would have to consult with you all before any meeting with the chairs and vice-chairs of the local Parish Councils in the area could take place. Now that the decision has been withdrawn, all local councils within Peterborough City Councils area will need to be consulted and we should reject any meeting called for the chairs and vice-chairs of the few local Parish Councils...close to Wansford. Although a few of you felt that our meeting at the Christie Hall tomorrow should go ahead I think many would feel cheated out of their Friday evening now the Travellers Transit Site decision has been withdrawn (nobody from Peterborough City Council was prepared to be there !) I take responsibility for cancelling the meeting but will be present at the Christie Hall to explain the current position and apologise to those who do not get the message. Yours, Tim Pearson" 16-10-2008 Cllr Graham Murphy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Economic Development has issued the following statement to Parish Councils. "Dear Parish Council Chairman, I write to you following my interview on BBC Cambridgeshire on Tuesday, in relation to the Councils plans to consider a transit site for travellers. As a result of the new information obtained from the Highways Agency and in light the local concerns raised, I can advise you that the decision that was taken in relation to a transit site has formally been withdrawn. The Council remains committed to establishing a transit travellers site in the Peterborough area and our plan is to press on with the consultancy work to determine the most suitable location for such a site. I write to you now to confirm the offer I made on the radio, namely to meet with the chairs and vice-chairs of the local Parish Councils in the area so that I can fully appreciate your concerns, and which I can then discuss with my officers, to enable us to move forward in a considered way. I will ask my officers to arrange a meeting with you and other local parish representatives in the next week or so. In the meantime, as you are aware, I genuinely cannot attend the meeting planned for this Friday evening, as I am away from Peterborough until late. Similarly the Director of City Services is away on holiday this week and so he would not be able to be present. In the circumstances, I hope you will agree that the best way forward is for us to meet in the way I suggest at a more convenient time for all required to discuss this. Yours sincerely Graham Murphy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Economic Development" 15-10-2008 In view of an escalating public relations disaster for the City Council, Shahin Ismail, Head of Legal Services at PCC, has released a short statement this evening in which he says "I can confirm that the Cabinet Member Decision Notice relating to the travellers' transit site has been withdrawn today." 10-10-2008 Shailesh Vara MP is supporting the campaign and will be attending the meeting on 17th October. 09-10-2008 A meeting has been arranged for Friday 17th October 2008 at 7.30pm This will be held in the Christie Hall at Wansford. | Download and Links 10-10-2008 Notice of Meeting for 17th October 09-10-2008 Press Release from Tim Pearson |