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These concerns have been
present since December 2008 when Peterborough City Council had to
withdraw plans to build a permanent sight near Wansford after the
plans proved controversial with local members of the community.
The issue is once again sparking
controversy as a new Peterborough City Council Steering Group, set
up to handle permanent housing for travellers, was revealed on
Saturday at the annual meeting of the Peterborough Neighbourhood
Watch group.
Peterborough is already home to two
managed sites and nine private sites- providing a total of 91
pitches. The Regional Spatial Strategy is now calling on
Peterborough to provide another 30 extra permanent residential
pitches by 2011, taking the number up to a staggering 121 pitches
for Peterborough alone. Areas being considered as locations for
these sites include Dogsthorpe, Newark, Paston and North Bretton -
all of which are located in the Peterborough constituency. Despite
claims that the new plans will cut costs, after initial building
costs, the site will then need a further annual commitment of
£15,000 to maintain.
Stewart commented: “I am very
concerned about these proposals and the apparent lack of
consultation with local people. It is alarming that all of the sites
identified are in my constituency. This is a large burden on one
constituency.
I will be pressing the council for
immediate action to address these concerns and look for alternative
sites across the whole of the Peterborough City Council area in a
fairer and more transparent manner.
In the meantime, the City Council
should be mindful of wasting Council Taxpayers scarce funds
complying with a discredited Regional Spatial Strategy which an
incoming Conservative Government will immediately abolish.”
Stewart
Jackson was elected in May 2005 to represent the
Peterborough constituency in the House of Commons.
To find out more about him, his views and activities, visit his
website at
www.stewartjackson.org.uk
Peterborough UK
Community Website - February 2009
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