Council to consider travellers site petitions totalling 3,200 signatures

North East Lincolnshire Council will consider three petitions totalling 3,204 signatures against plans for a travellers site in the region.

A list of five sites for a designated stopping site in Grimsby, including one on the Nunsthorpe estate, was drawn up by the council last year.

The sites, which would reportedly provide a 14-day maximum stay, are all in the South and East Marsh wards.

But, the plans attracted protests and three petitions have been submitted to the authority objecting to the proposed sites.

They include:

• A 1,012 signature petition against a travellers site on Ampleforth Avenue, Grimsby
• A 1,173 signature petition against any site for travellers on the Nunsthorpe estate
• A 1,019 to remove Garibaldi Street car park, Wellington Street car park and Land under Cleethorpes Road flyover from the list of potential sites.

Angry residents attended a meeting on the Nunsthorpe Estate to air their concerns over a proposed travellers site. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Senior councillor approved the list for consultation in November and warned against residents promoting violent or anti-social behaviour towards travellers.

A designated stopping site for gypsy and traveller communities is legally required under the authority’s local plan.

The five sites proposed, cut down from a 25-site list, are:

• Former youth club on Wootton Road, Nunsthorpe
• Torksey Drive and Toynton Road site, off Winchester Avenue
• Land under the Cleethorpe Road flyover
• Garibaldi Street car park
• The car park off Wellington Street

Campaigners gathered outside the cabinet meeting at Grimsby Town Hall with placards reading: “No to Travellers in Nunsthorpe”.

The demonstration followed a public meeting on the estate where councillors raised concern over reports of threats of violence and anti-social behaviour against travellers.

The reports led to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma to write to council leader, Philip Jackson, to raise concern on the issue.

Councillor Jackson called for people to be careful with the language they use.

One of the proposed sites on Torksey Drive. Photo: Daniel Jaines

“It’s not acceptable to be condoning any sort of violent action from any part of the community against gypsies and travellers so members of the public, community and elected members need to be very careful about the sort of language being used,” he said.

A designated stopping site for gypsy and traveller communities is legally required under the authority’s local plan.

Councillors will debate the petitions at a full council meeting in Immingham on March 19.

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