12th July 2007

Article By the Peterborough Evening Telegraph about Last Wednesdays protest in Market Deeping.

Almost 800 angry residents besieged a town hall where a plan for a new travellers site was being discussed.

Astonished council officials had to guard the door as the crowd of protesters grew.

While only 25 people were allowed in the council chamber, the others milled around outside the old town hall shouting their opposition.

At one point people pressed forward and started climbing the stairs to the council chamber where plans for the controversial site were to be discusses at the monthly town council meeting which was brought forward by 45 minutes to avoid chaos and confrontation.

Bravely a council officer walked out to meet the crowd and appealed for them to leave and keep the growing level of noise down.

A chain barrier was pulled across the staircase and Police Community Support Officers were called to keep peace.

Town mayor, councillor Reg Howard, peeped around the curtains of the first floor window to survey the angry masses of people and then addressed them by shouting out the window.

Before residents dispersed and let the councillors continue with their meeting, they said they were concerned that crime will go up, insurances will increase and house prices prices will fall if a travellers site moves to their town.

The growing public protest began after South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) established that there is a need for 20 permanent permanent and 5 temporary sites across the district.

Already SKDC are considering 17 suitable sites across Market Deeping, Bourne and Grantham but they will only choose one or two of the sites.

In Market Deeping SKDC are considering five suitable sites - two in Northfields Road, one next to Town Gate Hotel, one opposite Corner Farm and one on the showground.

Each one will take up to 25 pitches, with one pitch housing two caravans and one vehicle.

Central government have instructed all councils across the country to make provision in the local development framework for permanent sites for travellers, based upon need.

Town mayor, councillor Reg Howard said: "We want to know how the need was established. "There maybe a need in the district as a whole, but we can't see a need in Market Deeping.

"If a site is setup in the town it will be at the peril of SKDC. The people are incensed and they are right to take action.

"It would affect the area very badly and there would be grave problems of nuisance. People are writing to me, calling me and emailing me and some have already put their houses up for sale because they are concerned their property will be affected."

The Evening Telegraph spoke to fuming residents from Market Deeping who are planning to fight against the proposals.

Tracey Atkinson said: "If the proposals go ahead for the identified travellers site it will be the deathknell of Market Deeping as a market town. From the bypass, all anyone will see is travellers and caravans from Town Gate East all the way up to Stamford Road.

"Will it be any wonder that no one will want to call into Market Deeping on their way to Peterborough or Stamford for business or leisure?"

Angela Brooker of Campian Drive, Deeping St James, said: "I am concerned about the impact on the security of our houses. I live in a nice residential area where children can go outside and play and i don't mean to be prejudice but I have concerns about my children's safety and what effects it will have on the area because crime will increase and the value of houses will be affected.

"I used to live in a town in Norfolk where this happened and it had a negative effect - vehicle and property crime went up and I don't want the same happening here."

Catherine Kelly of Market Deeping said: "I'm so angry they can impose this on us without any consultation. There will be demonstrations and petitions to fight against the plans - this is just the start.

"If district councillors think travellers sites are so wonderful, why don't they put the site outside their homes?

"SKDC is becoming a dumping ground. This area is so detached from central Lincolnshire policy. It's like a little cancer growing out of the Peterborough area.

"We haven't got the facilities to cope with extra people. Our schools are bursting out the seams already and with more houses it's becoming more confined.

"If even more children with not enough to do move here, there's going to be trouble."

Town Cllr Maureen Tray said: "I feel quite strongly. I am concerned about debris and the fact we would have to supply water and electricity. It would have to be managed properly and it would cost money. It wouldn't contribute anything to the town. There's a pressure on schools and housing already."

Cllr Bryan Helyar of Deeping St James Parish Council said: "We will fight against the proposals. Travellers have got needs but lots of negative things happen as a result such as violence and an increase in litter and threatening behaviour.

"You will get vigilantes because police wouldn't be able to cope with the behaviour. We need to do something legally."

Cllr Peter Naylor, chairman of Langtoft Parish Council said: "We are concerned about the impact on the infrastructure, the possible impact of house values and the potential increase in crime rate. Palmwell suffered greatly as a result of a travellers site on its doorstep. Burning clothes were put through letter boxes and it's still a no-go area. The police don't even venture there on their own."

Brendan Musgrove of Market Deeping said: "I am concerned Market Deeping has got a majority of town councillors living in Bourne and Grantham with the head of the planning committee living in Bourne as well. Surely councillors wouldn't go to such a low level of nimbyism would they?

To assure people and in an attempt to put residents' minds at ease, Cllr Howard added: "No decision has been taken or will be taken until the matter has gone to public consultation over a six-week period."

A date for the public consultation has yet to be fixed. But residents will be able to raise their concerns again at a meeting of Deepings Local Area Assembly, chaired by SKDC cabinet member Paul Cartwright on Monday at Langtoft Village Hall at 7pm.

People are being encouraged to write to SKDC's planning policy department at Grantham to raise their concerns.M