Travellers’ site outrage

Residents in Merley have been outraged by Poole Borough Council’s proposal that a travellers’ transit site could be located at Merley Hall Farm and have established a pressure group, Residents of Rural Ashington (RRA).  

The tenant farmer, Mr John Wood said was shocked when he heard about the plans by word of mouth. “I feel very aggrieved that this proposal by Poole Borough Council has been put forward and at no time have I been consulted.” He said. “I feel that this is very underhand tactics on the council’s behalf.”

He wrote to residents to alert them to the fact that some of his farm had been earmarked for the site and this prompted over 250 people to turn up to the public meeting held by Poole Borough Council at Bearwood Community Centre. 

The council’s Senior Planning Officer, Strategic Planning, Helen Harris, who attended the meeting said, “We are in a period of continued public consultation.  Merley Hall Farm is leased to Dorset County Council and we did consult them as leaseholders, however, it was an oversight not to contact the tenant and we have apologised for this.  We are publicising the proposal in Poole News, the media and on our website where people can fill in feedback forms. I would like to stress that this is a consultation and people’s views will be taken into consideration.”

Local man, David Hargreaves said, “Merley Hall Farm is a beautiful, peaceful spot, acres of green field, surrounded by woodland, fronting a river with fabulous views.  If you were a traveller, why wouldn’t you want to stay there for ages?  The site could hardly be more delightful.  What Poole’s proposal will result in, is a so-called transit camp becoming a full-blown holiday camp. Word will quickly get around.  The site will attract hordes of travellers who would otherwise never have come near the borough.  It will be an outright magnet.  It’s impossible to imagine a more spectacular own goal.”  He went on to say, “We have explained why the potential Merley Hall farm site is disastrously misconceived.  If a site is needed at all, Poole must get to work immediately appraising the many superior alternatives.”

He went on to suggest the Park and Ride car park on Upton Road and the empty site at Creekmoor Bridge roundabout.

Planning consultant, James Cain, of Horsey Lightly Fynn solicitors and town planners, who is representing the RRA said, “Not only is this site in the green belt, it will be in very close proximity to a site of special scientific interest and may be within a conservation area.”

Helen Harris explained, “A transist site is where gypsies and travellers are able to park up for a period of one or two weeks.  Once an area is dedicated for this purpose, the police have powers of re-direction to move travellers there.  The government requires that local councils provide transit sites and Poole is required to proved a camp for eight pitches.  This size of camp would take around half a hectare of land.  There are around 96 hectares at Merley Hall Farm and as yet, we have not identified which part would be required.  We are in the very early consultation stages and welcome feedback on the proposal.”

Residents have until 30 November to submit objections and James Cain is urging those who turned up to the meeting to object, to put their objections to the Council in writing in planning terms.

Poole Borough Council’s website relating to the Local Development Framework – Site Specific Allocations Continued Consultation can be accessed at www.boroughofpoole.com/strategiesandplans/ref:S48D7A8C8AA5A2/