A CONWY gypsy and traveller site will be extended to allow a further two pitches, after fears were raised about access, privacy, and the safety of those living on the site.
Conwy applied to its own planning department, seeking permission for two additional pitches at the existing gypsy and traveller site at land off Bangor Back Road, Bangor Road, Conwy.
Planning officers advised the committee to approve conditional planning permission.
The gypsy and traveller site lies between the A55 and the Eryri National Park boundary, within the designated Creuddyn and Conwy Historic Landscape.
Planning permission was granted in April, 2015, for the traveller site, comprising of four pitches and two amenity buildings, with access, fencing, parking, new security gates, retaining structures, and soft landscaping.
Further permission was then granted in February, 2019 ,for an extension to each side of the amenity blocks.
The latest application sought permission for the creation of an additional two pitches.
The site fronts onto a section of tarmac roadway leading from Bangor Old Road, which was part of the original A55 roadway before the construction of the new A55 dual carriageway in 1991, and the section of tarmac roadway is included in the Register of Common Land.
The north side of the site contains retaining walls and acoustic fencing alongside the A55.
Cllr Stephen Price wanted assurances about access and the safety of residents on the site.
“I need further clarification on access for members of the public on the site, given there are reasonable grounds for safeguarding issues and the safety of any residents on that site,” he said.
“Would there be any restrictions in relation to members of the public?”
Planning officer Katy Roberts then said there was no public right of way running through the gypsy and traveller site but added that all existing access routes to common land would remain.
Cllr Price then asked for more information.
Ms Roberts said: “So as it stands, there are user rights in terms of graziers and recreational users. There is a gate within the site that allows vehicle access that is predominantly used by the graziers, and there is also a stile adjacent to the site that allows access to Conwy Mountain itself. So that is what allows access to the common land, and those will not be affected by the proposal.”
Cllr Price said: “So there’s nothing there in relation to the safety of those… of any residents impacted in the community?”
Ms Roberts said: “Well, there are no changes to those accesses. So there is no change to the safety amenity that they currently enjoy.”
Cllr Stephen Price proposed councillors backed the proposal; this was seconded by Cllr Nia Owen, and the application was voted through.
