Council to discuss permanent traveller site options

Some traveller families have been staying in an area of the car park at Matlock station for the past four years

Councillors in Derbyshire will review options for a permanent travellers site after potential choices were finalised.

Derbyshire Dales District Council said three possible places - all of which are currently not being named as they are in private ownership - have been put forward in a report by consultants, whittled down from six allocated areas.

Its community and environment committee will discuss the options at a meeting on 21 November.

Some residents in the county have objected to having possible sites placed near their homes.

The Woodyard at Homesford is one of three areas not recommended to be pursued, despite it currently being the only site in the district with planning consent for use as a traveller site.

Also ruled out in the report are Rowsley's Station Yard car park and the Derbyshire County Council site in Ashbourne's Watery Lane, though the latter was originally designated as an approved permanent traveller site in in 2017.

At the upcoming meeting, councillors will be recommended to approve £25,000 is set aside to assess the viability of the three remaining sites.

The authority said committee members will also be advised to approve changing its "approach to include the use of auctions to buy possible permanent and/or temporary traveller sites".