News

A BARNSLEY MP has made a formal recommendation to the council to reconsider its plans for a traveller site in Darfield.

The site - just off Doncaster Road - is just one of those earmarked as potential locations for traveller sites in an ongoing council consultation.

Michael Dugher, MP, says he has been inundated with people protesting against the proposal and over 300 people attended a public meeting held about it last weekend.

He says the Darfield site does not meet guidelines set by the government because it is located away from local services and could be unsafe due to previous industrial activities in the area, with power pipelines running underground.

A representative of the permanent travellers’ site in Darfield attended the public meeting and suggested that a better option would be an expansion of their existing facility off Ings Road.

Michael added: “It is clear that it’s not an appropriate location for a travellers’ site. Not only is it some way off reaching the necessary criteria, it also doesn’t meet Government guidelines on permanent traveller sites. The land is located away from local services and it could be unsafe.

“The message from local residents and councillors is loud and clear and it is time for the council to go back and think again about its proposal for this travellers’ site in Darfield."