More Progress Towards Sustainable Solution on Gypsy and Traveller Sites as Meadow Lane Application Approved

This week's Council Planning Committee meeting was a busy one, as they often are. I'm not involved at all in determining planning applications, with planning being a 'regulatory' function of the council, rather than an 'executive' function, which are those I have responsibility for as Mayor. I was pleased to be informed on Monday night of good news for the Borough with regard to a number of applications.

Perhaps the most high-profile application dealt with on Monday was the Council's application, approved by my Executive, for a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site at Meadow Lane, off the A603 just outside Bedford to the East. The Council is required to ensure that there is 'sufficient' gypsy and traveller pitch provision in its area (based on an objective assessment of demand) and if it does not, unsuitable applications in unsuitable locations can be approved by the Palnning Inspectorate. Indeed, that has occurred in Bedford Borough, and it is not acceptable for our communities. So, after decades during which there has been no additional gypsy and traveller provision in the Borough, we have moved to help protect communities from unsuitable encampments and provide sites as part of a sustainable solution for all. Identifying sites for gypsies and travellers is not easy (which may have something to do with the fact that none were provided for decades previously!), but the Meadow Lane site has been through multiple phases of extensive public consultation, and I am very pleased that planning permission has been awarded. We made a successful bid for a £1.2 million grant from government to provide ten pitches on the site, in addition to four extra pitches at the existing Kempston Hardwick site.

Alongside our robust approach to tackling unauthorised encampments and the protection measures we have taken for a number of our open spaces, these measures are part of our attempts to pursue a responsible, sustainable approach for the benefit of all on this matter.

One of the other high-profile applications approved at Monday's meeting was the award of planning permission for a brand new B&Q store, which will be part of a new commercial development across the roundabout from the interchange Retail Park, on land by the railway line. The fact that another major retailer is investing in Bedford and creating 150 jobs is very good news, which will no doubt also be welcomed by local shoppers!