Three Rivers LibDems say 'No!' to Conservatives' gypsy site proposals

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jul 2007

The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has completed its consultation on the location of gypsy and traveller sites across the region.

Three Rivers council has rejected the findings of 'Scott Wilson' report, commissioned by Three Rivers, Dacorum, Watford, Hertsmere, St. Albans and the County Council to assess the legal requirement for gypsy sites. This includes rejecting sites at Woodside Road and Langleybury Lane.

The EERA report states that only two pitches (not sites) are needed in the Three Rivers area. However the Conservative-dominated regional authority has said that it thinks it would be 'fairer' for all council areas to have at least 15 pitches, so that Conservative areas in Essex and Cambridgeshire do not have to provide so many pitches! We believe that this is unreasonable, and pointless, as few traveller families want to live in this area.

LibDem-run Three Rivers has told EERA that its local plan states that gypsy and traveller sites are not appropriate either in residential areas or in the Green Belt.