By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A review of 22 Newark and Sherwood sites for potential gypsy and traveller plots will meet the “minimum need” of the community, the chief of a Nottinghamshire traveller organisation has said.
The district council has announced a public consultation on whether the almost two dozen sites would be suitable for travellers.
It comes as part of a review into the council’s housing and employment land, with the authority legally required to set out plots for the gypsy and traveller community.
Council documents as part of the review state there is a need for 118 traveller plots between now and 2034.
This includes 77 between 2019 and 2024.
The district has a long-standing connection with the travelling community, with estimates of around 25,000 people from gypsy or traveller backgrounds living in the area.
And private landowners had been asked by the council to put forward land they believe is suitable to meet the needs.
These are spread across various parts of the district including Newark, Balderton, Ollerton, Wellow, Blidworth, Collingham and Fiskerton.
Some, however, are not viewed as suitable, with the public asked to give their views on the sites.
Commenting on the consultation, the chief executive of an organisation supporting the gypsy and traveller community in Nottinghamshire spoke of the need for more support.
Richard Bennett, chief executive of Gypsy Life, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Newark and Sherwood has one of the country’s largest traveller populations.
“It’s quite ironic that the council announce these 20-odd plots when we’ve got around 25,000 members of the community in the district.
“People who look at this quite negatively will think these 20-odd plots are a maximum need when actually, it’s a minimum need.
“Not all gypsies and travellers live in caravans, a large number of us live in housing but not by choice.
“The vast majority of the GRT community living in Newark and Sherwood are in employment, but they have to keep their ethnicity to themselves.
“Our society is the same as everyone else, we just want to be happy, to follow our happiness and have the right to own our land and live in peace and quiet.”
The public consultation, running on the council’s website, is open until September 21.
Councillor Roger Blaney (Con) is chairman of the council’s planning committee.
He said: “Newark is home to a diverse community, which includes its valued and historic connection with the traveller traditions.
“The sites we are considering allocating have been promoted to the district council as suitable by landowners and/or agents.
“We have given our suggested views on the suitability of this land from a planning perspective, but now we need residents to give us their thoughts on this.”
Below is a list of all 22 sites up for consultation:
Chestnut Lodge, Barnby
Belvoir Ironworks North, Newark
Maltkiln Lane, Newark
Bower Abattoir, Tolney Lane, Newark
Green Park, Newark
Denton Close, Balderton
Fen Lane, Balderton
Land to the North West of Winthorpe Road, Newark
Land at Barnby Road / Clay Lane, Newark
Seven Oaks, Edingley
Shannon Caravan Site, Ollerton
The Paddock, Ollerton
The Stables, Ollerton
Dunromin, Ollerton
Greenwood, Ollerton
Newark Road/ Wellow Road North, Ollerton/Wellow
Newark Road/ Wellow Road South, Wellow
Land adjacent Shannon Caravan Park, Ollerton
Cottage Farm, Blidworth/Rainworth
Station Road, Collingham
The Mulberries, Collingham
Gravelley Lane, Fiskerton
