Proposals to put Travellers' site in Merley cause alarm.

5.08.00pm GMT Thu 30th Oct 2008

Poole Council is consulting on the possibility of a Travellers' site in the vicinity of Merley Hall Farm. Residents have only recently learned about this and not surprisingly have many questions and many concerns.

Annette Brooke MP described the news as "a bombshell". "Residents only became aware of the Council's plans last week, as did I. The Council's consultation process does seem to have been flawed."

Local residents have already formed Friends of Rural Ashington (FRA) in opposition to the plans. They are concerned about incursion onto the green belt, the site's proximity to a site of special scientific interest, and the impact on a conservation area.'

Below can be found details of letters sent by Annette Brooke to local residents and Poole Council concerning this issue:

Letter to residents:

22nd October 2008

Dear Resident,

Re: proposed Traveller Transit Site, Merley Hall Farm

I am writing to update you on this issue and to report my latest findings.

Conversations that my husband Councillor Mike Brooke has had with officers in Poole Property Services and at Dorset County Council clearly reveal that Poole Council have not only failed to inform their own property department and ward councillors but have also failed to inform Dorset County Council who actually lease Merley Hall Farm from Poole about the proposals for a traveller site. I also understand that Dorset County Council will be submitting evidence to Poole Borough Council that will demonstrate the site is unsuitable for the proposed use. I will be receiving a copy of this evidence in due course.

It is difficult to understand why the three local authorities, Poole Borough, Bournemouth Borough, and Dorset County Council can submit joint representations about the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites as set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy, yet as demonstrated by this case, appear to be working in total isolation with regard to the planning and implementation of such sites.

I have submitted two Questions to Parliament seeking clarification of the legal issues and processes relating to the implementation of a traveller transit site. These are:

Named Day Written question to: Department for Communities and Local Government for answer on 27 Oct 2008 12:00 AM

what opportunities there are for a small group of local authorities to work together and produce a joint strategy to make provision for travellers on a) a temporary and b) a permanent basis.

Named Day Written question to: Department for Communities and Local Government for answer on 27 Oct 2008 12:00 AM

what requirements there are for each local authority individually to make provision for a) a permanent traveller's site and b) a transient traveller's site?

Finally I would be happy to arrange a meeting for you and your Ward Councillors to discuss the way forward. Please do let me know if this would be helpful.

Yours sincerely

Annette Brooke MP

Letter to Poole Council:

20 October 2008

Mr. John McBride

Chief Executive

Poole Borough Council

Civic Centre

Poole

BH152RU

Dear John,

I have been contacted by constituents living in Ashington Lane, Willett Road, Merley Ways and surrounding areas who express concern about the Borough Council's proposals to establish a transient traveller site on the land which comprises Merley Hall Farm.

Local residents are opposed to the proposals, and have made the following points of objection to me:

• Local residents point out that the Borough Council's submission to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy Gypsy and Traveller Provision said that the Poole area does not require any further transient traveller sites, and they therefore ask why the Borough Council is proposing one at Merley Hall Farm.

• With the Borough Council having spent a great deal of time and money establishing the areas surrounding Ashington Lane and Willett Road as Conservation Areas, local residents feel that the proposed traveller site will degrade the local area.

• Owing to its rural location, many parts of Merley Hall Farm are a long distance away from sources of mains drainage and electricity, and road access is poor.

• Residents observe that the application for a traveller site that was submitted at Mannings Heath had to make provision for security measures such as street lighting and CCTV, many of which are unsuited to a rural area.

• There are concerns about security issues, and residents have found that statistics indicate increased crime rates in areas which are close to transient traveller sites.

• Residents are also concerned that the tenant farmer at Merley Hall Farm has not been properly consulted about the proposals.

I note that there will be an opportunity for residents to view the proposals from 6.15 pm on Wednesday 22 October at Bearwood Community Centre, in advance of the Area Committee meeting.

This is clearly a matter of urgent concern to my constituents and I should be grateful for your assurance that the Borough Council will give full consideration to all issues raised by residents when considering action in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Annette Brooke M.P.