Clifton move is sure to fail

LOCAL councils have consistently failed people and locally-based travellers with their failure to find a permanent solution to their needs.

Last week we had the latest evidence – a planning application by the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group for the site next to the Down’ard goal in Clifton.

It is forced by the failure to provide other options and is sadly unnecessary as it must surely fail.

The site was rejected in the district council’s own appraisal in favour of an option in Tansley.

The Clifton coal yard is likely to be contaminated, has poor access, exit by vehicle is dangerous with very poor sightlines, and the lack of pavement leaves pedestrians exposed. These issues were recognised when permission for housing was denied years ago.

Using the Clifton site doesn’t provide a permanent solution – the land will be leased from the owner who likely still hopes to achieve residential use. If he succeeds, don’t expect the travellers to be allowed to stay.

If he fails the land remains unsuitable for residential use – which makes it unsuitable for permanent use by the travellers. The News Telegraph has rightly pointed to the issues facing the travellers. That doesn’t make the Clifton site

an appropriate solution. Councils and councillors know there are other, better, solutions. District councillors must not force a temporary and inadequate solution on Clifton or again fail the travellers and must deny the application.

Graham English Clifton Resident

● IT has been interesting to read two articles that have suggested establishing a traveller site at Watery Lane in Ashbourne is a Liberal Democrat idea. It is important to remind people that the site was granted planning permission by DDDC Planning Committee in June 2015 by 10 votes to seven, was approved in principle by DDDC in September 2016 and was given full approval in January 2017 by 27 votes to seven.

All these decisions were taken by a council that was dominated by Conservative councillors (29 Conservatives, five Labour and just four Liberal Democrats), so to suggest that it is a Liberal Democrat idea is somewhat misleading!

This issue has been rumbling on for years and all the Liberal Democrats are asking for is a full, fair and open debate/discussion about potential sites to ensure that a proper solution is found that will satisfy the traveller community and prevent them from continuing to set up temporary sites that cause significant inconvenience to local residents.

Robert Archer District councillor