Bolton Council has identified a green belt site off The Alders, between Tonge Moor and Breightmet, as a future location for Traveller communities, with up to 50 plots planned. The proposal is contained in the borough's draft local plan, which outlines strategic development until 2042.
The council intends to withdraw green belt status for the patch of land, which sits next to Firwood Works employment site and close to homes off Crompton Way and Thicketford Road.
Draft plan details
The draft local plan states that 40 plots at the site are expected to meet relocation needs from existing unsuitable plots in the borough, with another five to 10 included in the provision. The plans were agreed by the council's cabinet on Monday, September 28, and will shortly go out for public consultation.
The document notes that Gypsies and Travellers are a legally defined ethnic group with protected characteristics, and that their customary form of accommodation is a pitch within a site. It also recognises Travelling Showpeople as a distinct cultural community, traditionally members of an organised group holding fairs, circuses or shows, travelling for work and returning to live on mixed-use plots within yards.
Petition launched
The inclusion in the draft local plans has led to a petition on change.org opposing the move. The petition, titled 'Urge Bolton Council to re-evaluate Traveller site at The Alders', had 360 signatures on September 29.
It says: "The proposed site threatens not only the natural beauty but the very character of our community. One of our primary anxieties is the potential impact on highway safety. The area around The Alders is already prone to congestion, and the introduction of a Traveller site would inevitably lead to increased traffic."
Council's position
The plan states that Bolton has well-established travelling communities and a duty to plan for the accommodation needs of both of these groups in the same way it plans for any other housing need. It also says the council has 'historically fallen short of identified need' on providing suitable living areas for Travellers.
The council said the 'consequence is households end up on unauthorised sites, in bricks-and-mortar accommodation that does not suit the way they live or moving on from one temporary arrangement to the next'. The plan said The Alders 'provides the opportunity to meet the needs in a location which can provide an appropriate setting for their accommodation'.
The site is positioned 'in a sheltered location between the settlements of Tonge and Breightmet, within walking distance of schools and green space, including the Seven Acres nature reserve south of Thicketford Road'. Tonge Moor Road local centre and Hall i' th' Wood railway station are both within 800 metres.
