Gypsy and Traveller sites - A triumph for people power as residents march in protest over lack of consultation

3.35.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Jun 2008

Residents march in protest at the lack of consultation from the council

Residents of Stanley Lane, Hardens Mead and Long Close, angry at the lack of consultation over proposals for a gypsy and traveller site in their areas, marched to the District Council offices to hand in a petition to the Leader of the Council.

The land has been a public open space for 60 years and in addition has a children's playground, a BMX track, a canoe club and the sea scouts H.Q. and air cadets H.Q. on site and it is part of the river walk into Chippenham.

Access to the proposed sites is via a narrow sloping road past parked cars and additionally the site is on a flood plain and in Winter is very wet.

Residents cannot understand how their site came to be considered in the first place and were particularly incensed to only find out about it via the press two days before it was due to be discussed by the Tory Executive.

As a result of considerable public pressure the Executive decided to launch a public consultation on all six sites

Duncan Hames and the Liberal Democrat councillors in Chippenham support residents views of the unsuitability of the sites, and will be saying so at the meeting of the Area Committee on 2 June , and at the meeting of the Town Council planning committee.