New plan for gypsy/traveller site at Croft

A new planning application has been submitted to town planners for a gypsy/traveller site at Croft, Warrington.

The application for the Spring Lane Nurseries site is not connected with a previous proposal by Warrington Borough Council to create a gypsy/traveller transit site at Kenyon Lane Nurseries in the village.

The application is for a change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for 5 gypsy/traveller families, each with two caravans including no more than one static caravan/mobile home, together with the laying of hardstanding and erection of communal amenity building.
The Spring Lane Nurseries is currently occupied by a commercial yard and existing buildings and hard standing and a log sale business.
Access would be from Spring Lane, Croft.
On behalf of the applicant Thomas Smith, Philip Brown Associates Ltd, says the proposal would improve the appearance of the site.
They say the visual impact on the green impact would be minimal due to the modest scale of the site.
They say the development would satisfy all the council’s locally specific criteria for the consideration of applications for new traveller sites.
The applicant owns an existing traveller site on Gorsey Lane which has previously accommodated their adult children.
This site has become overcrowded and can not accommodate more than the existing six caravans.
The site has accommodated three additional caravans and the applicant has purchased the application site for his adult children to establish a site of their own in the district where they have lived all their lives.

Independent Cllr. Neil Johnson at the Kenyon Lane site

Local Cllr Neil Johnson said: “A planning application has been submitted at Spring Lane, Croft for a change of use to a residential caravan site for five gypsy/traveller families, each with two caravans. This application also includes the laying of hard standing and the erection of a communal amenities building.
“This is a private application and is not associated with Warrington Borough Council in any way.
“I will work with the community on this application to make sure the people of Croft are listened to. As your INDEPENDENT voice, I will actively work to ensure we are listened to. My fellow councillors are taking passive stance and asking residents to copy them in when they submit comments. Of course, I want people to do this, but I intend to be more proactive and take a leading role in representing the community.
“I encourage all residents to visit the Warrington Borough Council website and submit their comments. I invite everyone to get in touch with me directly with their comments and thoughts. I will then pull everything together and ask to meet with WBC. Residents can always contact me privately or ask to meet face to face if you would like to discuss this or any other issue in more detail.”