Villagers step up their battle against Gypsy site plans (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Heighington villagers step up their battle against Gypsy site plans
1:50pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Joanna Morris
VILLAGERS have stepped up their battle to halt controversial plans to build a Gypsy site close to their homes.
Earlier this month, residents of Heighington, near Darlington, set up a steering group to persue the objections to plans to convert two fields on nearby Walworth Road to accommodate travellers and their families.
The Heighington and District Support Group has now used money pooled by villagers to pay for the services of a chartered town planner.
A spokesman for the group, Michael McGarry, addressed last night’s Heighington Parish Council meeting (Thursday March 21).
He said: “A significant amount of money has been raised by residents and we have engaged the services of a chartered town planner in order to coordinate and bring together our arguments against this application.”
He also appealed for the support of the Parish Council and asked that a member of the council speak at an upcoming planning meeting against the application and in support of the hundreds of objections already raised in response to the plans.
Parish councillor Gary Blenkinsopp volunteered to attend the planning meeting on Wednesday April 10.
In response to a proposal raised by absent ward councillor Gerald Lee, the parish council also voted to send a letter of appreciation to the steering committee, thanking them for their hard work tackling the contentious application.
Comments(3)
NO EINSTEIN
says...
8:06pm Sat 23 Mar 13
I hope no such licence is granted for them, these people cause so much trouble, that's why they come to England, as there own people will not stand for it.
NO EINSTEIN
says...
8:18pm Sat 23 Mar 13
detachedbystander wrote:I'm sorry but are you in the real world.
I live in the Parish and I'm getting uneasy with the intense level of hysteria around the application.
Let's keep things fair and civilised.
I've had dealings with hapless Darlo Council planners and understand wholly the worry that, when presented with the facts and rules, the planning officers make irrational recommendations to the planning committee.
But I hope that the 'campaign' remains fair and sensible, otherwise even minded people like me will side with the travellers.
Most of these traveling folk are not the best of law abiding citizens.
Have you not seen the TV programs ?
These people see us as easy targets, and jail as an occupational hazard.
One can only assume you are such a person, or live in a cage.
detachedbystander says...
8:52am Sat 23 Mar 13
Let's keep things fair and civilised.
I've had dealings with hapless Darlo Council planners and understand wholly the worry that, when presented with the facts and rules, the planning officers make irrational recommendations to the planning committee.
But I hope that the 'campaign' remains fair and sensible, otherwise even minded people like me will side with the travellers.