Public consultation on plans to create a Gypsy and Traveller site on an area of land off Shottendane Road in Garlinge will launch within the next week, says Thanet council leader Rick Everitt.
The land, which is owned by the council, had been leased for agricultural use since 1977 although notice on that lease expired this month and the council says new land notices are being negotiated with tenant farmer Jonathan Tapp.
The council says new agreements are needed because there are complications around separating the current lease, with part of the site needed by KCC for the Inner Circuit road network.
The council’s Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, published in 2019, identified the need for 7 permanent pitches and 5 transit pitches. A pitch is defined as providing sufficient spaces for two caravans, two vehicles and utility blocks, supported by communal facilities.
The proposal for the Shottendane land is for two access points, one from Caxton Road and the other from Shottendane Road, with four permanent pitches and a community room, a children’s play area and an area for animals.
This would be subject to a planning application which will not be submitted until after consultation and further discussion by councillors to review the results.
At a council meeting in January council leader Rick Everitt said the proposal was “driven by the current and future needs of families already in the area and already an integral part of the community.”
Cllr Everitt said sites had previously been assessed in 2019-2020 with further work and visits carried out by the then-Conservative administration between 2021-2023. Shottendane was identified as a potential Gypsy and Traveller site but a funding bid for this failed.
The council says Shottendane has capacity to accommodate all the 12 pitches needed but the proposal is for a number of smaller schemes, adding that early engagement with the Traveller Coalition suggests a number of smaller family sized sites, consisting of between 2 and 4 plots would be more appropriate.
A report says the council could offer the site or individual pitches for rent, lease or sale but could only consider direct delivery of pitches if the costs were fully covered by pitch fees and/or external grant funding.
The proposal has faced opposition with the Westgate and Garlinge Action Group previously writing to Cllr Everitt over their concerns of the use of agricultural land when there are brownfield sites on the isle.
The group suggested an evaluation of previously assessed sites such as the Hoverport, land at Tivoli Brook, the Potten Street car park in St Nicholas-at-Wade, Shottendane and hardstanding at Jackey Bakers in Ramsgate. Proposals for those sites were ditched in 2019/2020.
The group was backed by Herne Bay and Sandwich, with West Thanet, MP Sir Roger Gale.
Members of the council’s scrutiny committee also suggested more sites should be consulted on rather than just the Shottendane land.
Ward councillor John Worrow also objected on behalf of Mr Tapp and other residents.
In an update through the council’s The Wave newsletter, Cllr Everitt said: “Some of the things we do are legal requirements. All local councils have a statutory duty to assess the needs of gypsy and traveller families in their area, making sure that suitable accommodation is available.
“As it stands, Thanet isn’t fulfilling that obligation. We have drafted a proposal to consider creating a site for the gypsy and traveller families off Shottendane Road in Garlinge. We will be inviting local people to give their feedback on the public consultation which will launch in the next week.
“We absolutely listen to the feedback we receive, through all of our public engagement activities.”
