Frustration over timing of Bedford Traveller site consultation in 'peak holiday season'

An application has been submitted to the borough council for 30 permanent pitches, with day rooms and two transit pitches, on land it owns next to Meadow Lane.

The development also features internal access roads, a new access onto Meadow Lane, footways, parking, play areas and open space, landscaping, fencing and other infrastructure, according to the local authority’s planning portal.

Conservative Mayor Tom Wootton approved a feasibility study and planning work in May to determine whether this area could be developed into a gipsy and traveller site.

The executive decision noted an identified need for an extra 30 gipsy and traveller pitches by 2030, and 13 more pitches by 2040. Two such sites are currently managed by the borough council. One is at Willow Drift with 14 pitches and the other at Kempston Hardwick, which has 24 pitches.

These sites cannot be extended because of the number of additional pitches required and the space available at the two locations. The council has a statutory responsibility to provide suitable accommodation for gipsies and travellers when a local need has been identified.

One comment objecting to the plans read: “The mayor only agreed to the ‘progression of a feasibility study’ on May 26th, yet up to 50 detailed reports and documents were validated on the council’s planning portal on July 1st.

“Preparatory work obviously had been started on this proposal for a significant amount of time, involving zero consultation with the local community.

“With the application validated on July 1st, the timing of the consultation process is completely unacceptable as this period closes on July 29th. That coincides with the peak summer holiday season, meaning that many people will be away and unable to submit their views.”

Residents say the council’s latest needs assessment suggests a demand for just five more pitches. “A 32-pitch site is well in excess of this requirement and therefore unnecessary, in our view,” they add.

“There’s already a traveller site on Meadow Lane, namely Willow Drift, and it’s simply unfair for a second site to be located near our estate. There must be other suitable areas around Bedford. It appears that due diligence hasn’t been completed in the search for an alternative location.

“We maintain there’s a substantial risk of disturbance to Priory Country Park and the Riverfield estate. There’s no mention of extra security measures, such as CCTV installation.

“The proposed development would lead to the loss of green land which could be used as part of the park and remain within the area’s green infrastructure.”

A waiting list of about 30 households currently without a legal stopping place or culturally suitable housing option was revealed by the local authority.

Around £300,000 has been approved within the council’s capital programme to fund the feasibility work. A report suggested the Meadow Lane land was identified as the most suitable option.