Protest held over temporary traveller site plans

Jim Hakewill said the council "had not followed its own agreed and published rules" in choosing the site near Rothwell

A protest has been held on the site of a proposed temporary travellers site.

Residents in Rothwell oppose North Northamptonshire Council’s plans for a £1.3m project to convert a greenfield site next to junction three of the A14 into 10 traveller pitches.

Jim Hakewill, Independent councillor for Rothwell and Mawsley, was at the protest and told the BBC: "I wish I could understand why [the council] picked this space."

David Howes, the council's Conservative executive member for rural communities and localism, said the site was the "most fitting to ensure we can provide the necessary and appropriate facilities".

North Northamptonshire currently has no stopping places for travellers passing through the county, with 19 unauthorised camps reported last year.

Without a site, police do not have the authority to issue section 62 notices, which allow officers to “seize and remove” vehicles.

Police will have the power to direct traveller groups to the temporary stopping place if they are found to be camping in an unauthorised area.

If they refuse to stay at the stopping point they will then be escorted to the county boundary.

Prostesters said they "did not understand" why the greenfield site near the A14 had been chosen

In a statement, Mr Howes said: "The creation of a 'temporary travellers stop' with appropriate facilities is of benefit to both the travellers themselves and to the wider community.

"Apart from providing suitable and sanitary provision, it also enables the authority to work with the police to move those who create unauthorised sites more hastily - to a better place."

He said any impact on the local environment would be reviewed and considered as part of a planning application.

However, Mr Hakewill claimed the council "had not followed its own agreed and published rules on how they will look for locations for travellers".

The council will fund the project itself, with the development expected to be complete by autumn 2025 - provided planning approval is given by September next year.

Once established, it is expected to cost £50,000 per year to run the site.

Rents and damage costs will be charged to travellers using the pitches, but the council expects the site to be unoccupied for long periods.