DERBYSHIRE DALES: Traveller family demand independent review

Last month, Derbyshire Dales District Council offered the Gastram family a temporary traveller site in Old Station Close car park, Rowsley, for a period of nine months. This was to tide the family over until a permanent site is found by the authority – who have a legal duty to find the family a home.

However, the Rowsley site offer has been met with fierce opposition from local residents and business owners.

The Derbyshire Gypsy Liason Group have also branded the site as unsuitable and a “waste of money”.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: “The Travellers have a statutory right to challenge our offer of a temporary site and have requested a review of the suitability of the site at Rowsley. An independent assessment will now be undertaken, the outcome of which is likely within four weeks.”

For the full story see this week’s Mercury.