Barton travellers consultation

A NEW consultation on permanent travellers' sites, focusing on the views of travellers in Barton-Upon-Humber, is set to be launched in July.

The six-week probe follows earlier consultations which narrowed possible sites down to a short list of Caistor Road in Barton-Upon-Humber and Normanby Road in Scunthorpe.

The consultation will look to find out if the families want to live in Barton and how far out of the town they would consider living on alternative sites.

Councillor Mick Grant said: "It is important that we consider all views and that includes  travellers. We already have families living in Barton, so it is only right that we ask them what they think.

"It is part of our ongoing work to find the right location. If any landowner has any land that might be suitable for us to consider, I'd be very interested to hear from them.

"It is without a doubt a difficult task choosing the right site. There are always people who don't want travellers on their doorstep. But we must consider that they have rights too, just like anyone else.

"They will pay rent and council tax, so it's not as though they will be living there for free.

"It is far better to have properly managed and secure sites in place, than for them to camp illegally, which is what they are doing now. That way we maintain control."