Five traveller pitches set up without permission at the edge of Urmston have been allowed to remain, following a ruling by Trafford councillors. The planning committee approved the retroactive application after hearing from a resident of the site and weighing concerns over flooding and greenbelt impact.
Retroactive Approval Granted
Members of Trafford council’s planning committee approved the application for the site, known as Philomenas Court, off Eeasbrook, last week. Planning officers had recommended approval, partly because they judged there to be no other suitable location for traveller pitches in the borough.
The decision comes despite 114 objections from the local community, which raised concerns about the impact on the surrounding greenbelt, flooding, road safety, waste disposal, noise, and the alleged burning of materials on the site.
Flood and Greenbelt Concerns
Ward councillor Joanne Harding, Labour, submitted an objection, citing “several serious” planning issues that “remained unsolved”. She highlighted the impact on the greenbelt, saying work done without permission had “fundamentally altered” the character of the land. Officers, however, judged the land should be classed as greybelt, saying it did not strongly contribute to greenbelt purposes.
Coun Harding also raised flood risks, noting significant flooding in the area on New Year's Eve 2024, which she said resulted in threats to life and livestock. She argued that approving the scheme would “effectively reward unauthorised development and undermine public confidence in the planning system”.
Planning officers said additional information showed the development could be considered “safe for its lifetime”, including agreement of a flood evacuation plan, and that it would not increase flood risk elsewhere.
Resident’s Plea and Committee Debate
The committee heard from Collette Day, a member of one of the families living on the site, who insisted she and her relatives should not be “judged by a stereotype”. She said: “I am here to ask for the opportunity for my family to live a peaceful, stable life, and to do so while remaining proud of who we are. We are gypsies and travellers.”
Ms Day added: “We just want to prove to Urmston residents and Trafford council that we are not all bad people. We are willing to work with the council. We are willing to respect people's privacy. We understand the stigma surrounding gypsies and travellers, but we shouldn't be judged by a stereotype.”
Her address drew praise from several committee members. Liberal Democrat Meena Minnis said: “You should have a right to live your life the way you wish to live your life, and I don't think that anyone should be discriminating against anybody.” Conservative Phil Eckersley added: “I'm really satisfied with what's been done with [this application]. I think the location is appropriate. The design's quite sympathetic.”
However, Labour’s Shirley Proctor opposed the plan, saying: “This isn't a one-in-a-hundred-year event. The land is going to flood. It's going to flood repeatedly.” She also noted the narrow road and lack of passing places, and said she could not support the application given the level of local objection. She described it as “appalling” that Trafford did not have a suitable offering for the traveller community, but felt this application was intended for specific families rather than being a site anyone in the community could use.
Ultimately, a majority of councillors on the committee voted in favour of approving the development.
