CHELMSFORD: Victory for people power
PEOPLE power has triumphed over a proposal to turn a field on the outskirts of Chelmsford into a site for 30 travellers' caravans.
More than 200 seething Great Baddow residents jammed a council chamber and forced a major climbdown.
They discovered only last Friday that the council had earmarked land near the A130 and Sandon School for a potential traveller camp for 30 caravans.
Their fury was fanned when council leader Roy Whitehead told Chelmsford Development Committee the site at Molrams Lane was now the only one being put forward for a consultation.
He said owners of another site at South Hanningfield telephone exchange had contacted the council just minutes before the meeting to say they were not selling, so it was withdrawn.
Baddow protestors said the land earmarked at Molrams Lane was also not for sale either.
"What is the difference?" demanded Jessye Pryke, landowner and resident to thunderous applause and cheering from the largest number of people to attend a borough meeting in recent years.
Opposition councillors suggested that the latest stage of the local development plan should go forward with no specific sites for travellers identified.
But they thought a site in Highwood Road, Writtle, where there was already one caravan should have been considered.
Now residents throughout the borough are to have a say on potential sites before any are formally identified for consultation
Cllr Whitehead said: "I suggest we go forward with no sites identified at all at this stage and over the next weeks give a chance for the traveller community, councillors and our residents to come forward with suggested sites."
Opposition leader Cllr Mike Mackrory said: "The amount of notice residents and councillors had about the Great Baddow site was minimal and the lack of detail in this agenda including the lack of maps or map references is totally unacceptable."
The first round of official consultation on traveller sites, as well as affordable housing begins in Mid-October for eight weeks.
Mr Pryke said afterwards: "I think this shows the power of the people. Had we not been there in such force and so angry, the Molrams Lane site would have gone ahead, I've no doubt of that.
"The fight must not stop. We must convince the council this is the wrong site, because of traffic, overlooking and lack of facilities.
"If they want us to suggest other sites in the borough we will do so. This is a vast rural borough."
10 Comments
by mary, essex
Sunday, October 04 2009, 3:04PM
“kelly, if travllers should buy there own land then prehaps people should buy there own houses. do u think that because one travller leaves mess behind then they all must be the same. eventually there will be a travllers site in every coumminity and i cant wait. increased crime ??? wheres the proof in that.. i think everybody should read this weeks chronical and all the lovley messages people have left. its nice to know that not everybody is as ignorant and small minded and rasist as some people. !!!!!”
by Kelly, Essex
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:07PM
“I don't think we should have any traveller sites, If they want land to park a caravan go out and buy it and apply for planning permission like any normal person - only brown field sites to be approved. Otherwise maybe we should all buy ourselves caravans and park them where ever we like.”
by George, Chelmsford
Friday, September 18 2009, 2:48PM
“All rather N.I.M.B.Y
..if they don't go there , then some poor other poor souls will end up with them .”
by Nicki, Baddow Hall Crescent
Friday, September 18 2009, 12:09PM
“Well done to the people who are as passionate about this as much as I am. As mentioned in the parish council meeting, if this site proposal was to go through, God help us! The strain on the local services, the increase crime, (should it occur(?), the rubbish, and the danger to cars drivers turning into Molrams Lane from Church Street is enough for the council to say that these site should remain as it is. The turnout for both meetings was fantastic, we need to keep our finger on the pulse and not let the council bulldoze their proposal through. I put my name down to recieve an update, I hope that the parish council uphold their promise in keeping us updated.Please tell your friends and neighbours about this and hopefully we can continue the figh to preserve Great Baddow and Sandon.”
by LIz, chelmsford
Friday, September 18 2009, 12:08PM
“I hope that all sites are actually removed from the plan before it is put forward - any left in will put people in a dangerous position.”
by Irene, Great Baddow
Thursday, September 17 2009, 11:17PM
“I was at both the Parish Council meeting and the Chelmsford Borough Council meeting and feel relieved that we were listened to and that the decision was taken to continue looking for sites.
As others have said, there will always be opposition to travellers' sites. Unfortunately, with the present politically correct thinking and the classification of travellers as an ethnic group, it seems they have more rights than the rest of the population. However,
travellers haven't earned their bad reputation over the decades for no apparent reason. As a speaker at the Council meeting remarked, the subject of crime and fly-tipping was the 'elephant in the room' .”
by Gray, Chelmsford
Thursday, September 17 2009, 9:26PM
“Common sense has prevailed. A great victory for residents. Hopefully the council are going to realize soon that any site proposal is going to be fiercely opposed. Travellers are not wanted by anybody, anywhere.
If the councillors are so set on finding these people somewhere to camp why don't they let them use their back gardens. I have a funny feeling they may not be so keen on the idea after a couple of weeks of the noise, mess, smells and disruption these people cause.
Keep on fighting and opposing.”
by Concerned Resident, chelmsford
Thursday, September 17 2009, 11:16AM
“Its still along way from being safe but its a small victory for the locals. The land is actually owned by a private person so why didnt the council know this? There were so many points raised it was great to see the locals out in force. Even with short notice, as the council tried to sneak this under the radar, loads of residents turned out. If they continue to press ahead with this site believe me there will be treble the number attending future meetings. Chelmsford Borough Council remember We have rights as well as the travellers and we will never except this site in our lovely community.”
by kellie ferrier, molrams lane
Thursday, September 17 2009, 11:01AM
“In addition to to the below local residents have identified other good reasons for oposing this site. Apparently when the newer housing estate was built (which has access from Gilmore way) an application was made for a road to be built giving access to these houses from Molrams lane. The gate to the proposed site for the travellers was the entrance to the proposed access road. Chelmsford council refused this application- i have been informed on the grounds that it was in a dangerous location. Why then would they consider the same access from Molrams Lane onto this same site now safe for use by travellers? The land is owned and has previously been turned down for other residential building proposals! It seems whoever was responsible for the writing the councils recent report in relation to finding suitable sites across Chelmsford has not done their homework, hence at the meeting on Tuesday people were informed to disregard the whole report.”
by Michaela, Essex
Thursday, September 17 2009, 11:00AM
“Well done to all those who took part in this campaign AGAINST these "travellers". Trust me, after vast experience, you do not want these people living near you. I am thrilled with the result.”