News

More applications to make Newark traveller sites permanent in area branded ‘a disaster waiting to happen’

By Latifa Yedroudj, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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There are more applications to make some caravan sites in Newark permanent in an area some people fear could see a “complete non-mitigated disaster” because of flooding risks.

Land at Shannon Falls, north of Tolney Lane in Newark and Land Off Sandhills Sconce, located on the south-west end of Tolney Lane, both operate as a gypsy and traveller sites.

The land on Shannon Falls spans about 0.5 hectares – equivalent to the size of a football field – and can accommodate up to 26 caravans.

In March this year, eleven people jointly submitted plans under one application to make Shannon Falls a permanent site after the site’s temporary status expired earlier in January.

The council granted a three-year temporary permission to the site in February 2022 after rejecting a previous application for permanent traveller pitches in November 2021.

However, the Environment Agency and Newark Town Council objected to the permanent status due to flood risks at the site.

Newark Town Council said in documents that they “object due to the land being at risk of flooding with a threat to life” but said there is “no objection to the temporary permission being extended”.

Officers in the council planning policy team raised no objections, but said they would only accept a temporary extension of up to a year – but not permanent use.

A council report recommends granting a one-year temporary extension of the site until July 2026. The land can only be occupied by named individuals and their dependants in the application.

Plans have also been submitted to make a site permanent on land off Sandhill Sconce, also located along Tolney Lane.

The site – which spans 1.35 hectares – accommodates up to 20 caravans. However, the council recommends granting a one-year extension of the site till July 2026.

The two planning applications will be discussed at Newark & Sherwood’s planning committee meeting on Thursday, July 3.

The site sits next to Park View Caravan Park along Tolney Lane.

Earlier this month, the council approved plans to extend temporary planning permission for this site until June 2026.

Cllr Adrian Amer (Ind) was among district councillors at the time who questioned the future of the wider area due to its proximity to the River Trent.

He told a previous planning committee meeting the area is a “disaster waiting to happen”, adding: “We’ve seen by floods in the last year or two what havoc they create.

“Why are we allowed to let a community feel settled and happy living [in this area], where if we have major floods – it will be a complete non-mitigated disaster?.”

Tolney Lane overall accommodates a large Gypsy and Traveller community providing space for up to 600 caravans – or 300 pitches.