Temporary traveller site plans submitted

Land off Ellesmere Road in Shrewsbury, has been earmarked as a temporary site

A temporary traveller site could be created for the first time in Shropshire.

Plans for a site catering for up to eight families on land on the edge of the Battlefield industrial estate in Shrewsbury have been submitted by the council.

Shropshire Council said the lack of facilities for families passing through the county had led to an increase in “unauthorised encampments”, with 34 such recorded instances in 2023.

If approved, grazing land off the Ellesmere Road roundabout would be converted for a period of up to five years and would include a facilities block containing showers and toilets.

The council has four permanent sites offering pitches for Gypsies and travellers, but no current public authority transit provision.

A significant number of unauthorised encampments on high profile locations such as Park and Ride sites had caused disruption and conflict, the authority said.

“These unauthorised encampments can cause disruption and conflict locally," a report said.

"They can also be expensive and time-consuming to deal with, particularly if a need to evict occupants arises."

However, a number of unauthorised groups who have traditionally pitched within Shropshire on an annual basis, pass through without any issues, the authority added.

A public consultation was held after the scheme was first proposed and the council’s cabinet voted to go ahead with a temporary planning application on the site in 2022.

Plans were formally submitted to the council this week.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.