Abergele traveller site plan scrapped but plan may go ahead elsewhere

Feb 25 2010 by Ian Hughes, North Wales Weekly News

DESPITE scrapping plans for a controversial travellers’ site in Abergele, Conwy County Council says it may still need to find a site elsewhere.

On Tuesday cabinet members voted to change its draft Local Development Plan (LDP) following 1,536 comments from the public over a 10-week consultation period.

Most objected to a site on land to the south east of Abergele.

The council has stated that although the site is no longer part of the plan for Abergele, if there is a need, an area will have to be designated elsewhere.

Stan Yates, planning policy manager, said: “If that assessment shows a need for a permanent or transit site in the county, then a site will have to be identified in the LDP.

“In the meantime, the cabinet has agreed with officers’ recommendations to remove the gypsy and traveller site search area from the LDP.”

Officers recommended the change should be made to take into account the views expressed during public consultation.

They wanted to remove the possibility of making hasty and ill-informed decisions in advance of the 2010 Gypsy Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment.

Abergele town and county councillor Tim Rowlands said: “It was clear from the start that local residents found the plans totally unacceptable.”

The LDP, which has not yet been finalised, will set out future development needs and sites in Conwy county until 2012.