East Devon MP Hugo Swire has urged East Devon District Council to rethink its plans to locate a large gypsy and traveller site in Cranbrook.
EDDC, which is obliged to provide 37 new gypsy and traveller pitches in East Devon between now and 2034, is proposing in the latest draft of the local plan to create 30 new pitches in Cranbrook - 81% of EDDC’s overall allocation.
Cranbrook Town Council have opposed the plans.
Commenting, local MP Hugo Swire said:
‘Obviously the easy thing to do is to put the majority of pitches in the same place but that does not mean it is the right thing to do. There is more to East Devon than Cranbrook and I believe that other areas such as Axminster and Seaton should all take their fair share.
‘This looks to me like a rushed solution as the lack of identified sites is holding up the Local Plan. The majority of my constituents in Cranbrook have no objection in principle to taking on their share of pitches but it is clearly unfair for the town to have to accommodate over 80% of EDDC’s entire allocation.
‘EDDC need to re-think and to do so quickly’.
Cllr Kevin Blakey, Chairman of Cranbrook Town Council said:
‘Cranbrook Town Council is pleased to note that our MP shares our opinion of the East Devon District Council Local Plan revision. Following objections from the people of Cranbrook and from Hugo Swire, it should now be clear to EDDC that the proposed Gypsy and Traveller policy is deeply flawed and must be taken back for reworking.
‘The Town Council’s position remains that we do not object to taking a reasonable share of the required provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites, but that allocating 81% of the total number of pitches needed in East Devon into one location is disproportionate, and would place an unsustainable strain on local resources, whilst not meeting the differing needs of the Gypsy and Traveller communities. It is very helpful that we have the support of our parliamentary representative on this, and we look forward to hearing EDDC’s response’.