Potential gypsy site in Stockton suburb is withdrawn from controversial shortlist

A controversial shortlist of sites potentially suitable for gypsy and traveller families in Stockton has been reduced from six to five.

One potential site in the leafy suburb of Hartburn has now been removed after the owner changed his mind.

As reported, hundreds of people have written to Stockton Council objecting over its proposals which initially identified six locations to house a total of 26 traveller pitches.

Sites included Yarm Back Lane, Hartburn; Frederick Street in Stockton town centre; Eltham Crescent in Thornaby; land between Bowesfield Crescent and the River Tees, Stockton; and Mill Lane, Billingham.

But Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for regeneration and transport, has confirmed the owner of the site to the rear of Roddmere, Yarm Back Lane, “has notified us that they no longer wish to promote the land for the purposes of a gypsy and traveller site”.

He added: “We are currently giving careful consideration to the more than 500 representations we received during the consultation process and the findings of this work will be presented to Cabinet for consideration in July.”

At an earlier Cabinet meeting in January Conservative councillor Ken Lupton called for the site in his Hartburn ward to be removed from the shortlist, saying the site was unsustainable, with no schools, buses or footpaths, and was near a “dangerous road”.

Fellow Conservative councillor for Hartburn, Terry Laing, said of the withdrawal of the site: “We represent anyone who lives in our community, so it can be difficult, but I would say it is good news.

“It wasn’t in a good place and there would connection and transport issues so, for those reasons, we’d be against the site being used.”

The authority has always stressed inclusion in the list does not mean the sites will actually be developed.

There has also been strong opposition from Thornaby residents where two sites, Eltham Crescent and land between the Tees and Thornaby Road, are being considered with more than 800 people signing petitions against the plans.

Steve Walmsley, independent councillor for Thornaby, has described the two sites in his town - as “absolutely outrageous”.

He was now written to Stockton Council’s chief executive Neil Schneider, asking: “Can you give me some indication that the insanity proposed for two sites in Thornaby – prior to consultation – have also been abandoned.”