Villagers form plan to tackle proposals

MEMBERS of Rowsley Parish Council attended a ‘special meeting’ earlier this week to formulate their objections to the proposed temporary traveller site in the village.

The meeting, which was called on Monday, November 21, allowed those in attendance an opportunity to put together a game-plan to tackle the plans – which have caused outrage amongst traders and residents.

It was also a chance for people to vent frustration at Derbyshire Dales District Council over why Rowsley was chosen for the temporary site and what other locations were considered alongside it.

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Many attendees also believed the authority was not being up-front in its reasoning behind why the family cannot stay at their current location at Bakewell Agricultural Business Centre until a permanent site is found.

At an earlier meeting on November 7, Paul Wilson, director of planning and housing services, explained that as the district council were not the full landowners at the agricultural centre and as the family had not suggested the location, it had not been considered for the site.

In response, an attendee at the November 21 meeting said: “The district council is the land controller and has a 99 year lease on the site from the showground. But there’s 4,000 votes in Bakewell, 300 in Rowsley and an election next year.”

The district council could, however, reassure residents that the site will be a temporary facility – as oppose to a permanent facility which the family will reside on temporarily.

An environment committee meeting has been called at 6pm on November 29 in advance of a planning meeting on December 6.