U-turn expected in Ladywell gypsy site row (From News Shopper)

U-turn expected in Ladywell gypsy site row

2:08pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Mark Chandler

Watergate School

Lewisham Council's mayor looks set to make a dramatic u-turn next week over a five-year-old plan to accommodate travellers and gypsies at the end of a narrow residential street.

A revived proposal to base the five-pitch facility on the site of an old school at Church Grove, Ladywell, provoked uproar from families in October, who only found out about it after a visit from News Shopper.

Now, after months of consultation, drop-in sessions, angry meetings and site visits, officers have finally recommended that Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock ditches the plan.

Campaigner Clare Brynley-Jones said: “I’m really, really happy. But it’s in the same way you’re happy when someone stops repeatedly hitting you on the head.

“Everyone’s really pleased but a lot will turn up to the meeting to see it through.

“Clearly in this case the mayor should listen to his council officers.”

The plan has been rejected following independent reports highlighting problems with access and showing the street is too narrow for caravans – a point residents say they made from day one.

Ms Brynley-Jones said: “We’ve been saying the same thing about road widths and access for five years.

“It’s taken that long for them to sit up and listen.

“This should never have got past the first post. It should never have been a shortlisted site let alone the chosen one.”

The site had first been approved in 2007 but stalled after an appeal by residents and concerns from travellers, only to be revived last year.

If the mayor agrees with officers at the town hall on Wednesday, Lewisham Council will need to go back to the drawing board to build a home for gypsies in the borough.

Lewisham currently has up to 108 traveller families, scattered across a range of accommodation and locations, with some claiming the situation is making their health deteriorate.

Church Grove had been chosen from a shortlist of seven sites, which may now be reconsidered, though officers recommend changing the council’s assessment criteria.

Where to build?

The collapse of the Church Grove plan means a site could still be built on the six other sites shortlisted by Lewisham Council. They are:

Laurence House lorry park, Canadian Avenue, Catford.

Catford Dog Track and Adenmore Road, Catford.

Former Greenvale School, Perry Rise, Forest Hill.

Ladywell Leisure Centre, Lewisham.

Old Tidemill School site, Giffin Street, Deptford.

Deptford Green School site, Amersham Vale,Deptford.

Six years on and no decision

2006 – Decision made to relocate Thurston Road travellers site to make way for Lewisham Gateway.

April 2007 – Church Grove and Laurence House lorry park shortlisted.

June 2007 – Mayor approves Church Grove as preferred site.

March 2008 – Planning application submitted.

June 2008 – Residents apply for judicial review. Permission is refused.

Late 2008 – Travellers express concern about Church Grove site. Plans put on hold.

October 2011 – The Church Grove plan is resurrected by Lewisham Council.