Travellers site plan approved for Telford recycling centre

Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee voted in favour of the proposal to transform Ketley Community Recycling Centre site into pitches for gipsies and travellers.

There will be 14 pitches altogether and the site next to a scrap yard off Whitchurch Drive, which the council says will be fully screened and have CCTV.

The plans have faced objections from residents who say the loss of the recycling centre will have a detrimental impact on the borough, including an increase in fly-tipping.

Five councillors voted in favour of the scheme during Wednesday night's planning committee with three against.

Some councillors said they recognised the need for the council to provide gipsy sites in the borough, while others were concerned having such a site on a "gateway" into the town.

Councillor Peter Scott said: "We must have this particular facility in the borough. On occasions I have gone across to Ketley and found it closed.

"I don't think I will go around the corner and dump my rubbish.

"If people are fly-tipping I hope the council comes down hard on them like a ton of bricks."

Councillor Ian Fletcher said he realised the council had to have such sites.

He said: "This site has got good access to the M54 which means they can come down for a day or so and move on again."

But Councillor Nicola Lowery said the land was not well screened.

"It is on the main gateway into Telford and I think we need to listen to the local community," she said. "I think there are better uses for the site."

Councillor Joy Francis, ward councillor, it was "totally unusable" as a traveller site.

"The council can raise more income from this site being used for small business units or bungalows," he said.

The council, which needs to find 32 traveller pitches before 2031, would manage the site and collect rubbish, while tenants will be expected to pay rent in advance for their pitch as well as a deposit.

Travellers are expected to use the site on average for about two weeks before moving on.

A report to the committee by planning officer Daniel Owen said: "The provision of additional pitches will also contribute towards reducing the likelihood of unauthorised encampments, which cause problems for residents and businesses, as well as meeting identified needs."