ABOUT 230 people packed into Stourport Civic Hall, where dozens of objectors spoke out against last night against controversial plans for four potential gypsy sites in the town.

The last in Wyre Forest District Council’s series of consultation meetings was to consider traveller pitches for Manor Farm in St John’s Road and Saiwen, Gables Yard and land next to Nunn’s Corner, all on the Sandy Lane Industrial Estate.

All the plots apart from Manor Farm are currently home to unauthorised caravans, which the proposals would see legalised.

There were 16 people who spoke out against the plans and about 20 more made objections when the floor was opened up.

The two-hour meeting was chaired by Stourport’s Mayor David Little and questions were answered by the council’s director of planning and regulatory services Mike Parker. He explained the council was looking for 43 gypsy and traveller pitches by 2022.

He said it also needs to find one spot for travelling showpeople and of the four sites, Manor Farm was the only one identified as being potentially suitable. He said there was currently a community of travelling showpeople at Longbank in Bewdley, which needed to be accomodated elsewhere.

Independent Community and Health Concern’s (ICHC) Jim Parish represented views made at Stourport Town Council’s meeting on Tuesday night. He argued that a concentration of gypsy sites in Stourport would bring about a change in the character of the town in conflict with its heritage.

ICHC district councillor Dixon Sheppard said: “Gypsies and travellers are different communities and do not always get on with each other...Wyre Forest District Council should hold meaningful talks with both gypsies and travellers and the business communities in Sandy Lane before legalising existing tolerated sites.”

Other issues raised were the devaluation of properties due to planning blight and an argument that Stourport had done its fair share in accomodating gypsy and traveller communities.

Dozens of people spoke out against plans for Manor Farm, including green activists who pointed out the danger to bats, badgers and reptiles.

Alison Frizzell argued that St John’s Road was a cycle route, also used by students of Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre. She said: “Increased traffic would place the children and all other pedestrians in significant danger as there is no footpath.”

Mr Parker said the consultation was “about hearing where there are any other sites that haven’t been considered.” The former Sugar Beet factory site and a site next to Zortech Avenue, both in Kidderminster, were suggested by residents.

ICHC district councillor Graham Ballinger said: “This whole exercise has been a farce from start to finish. The famous five young cabinet members, some of which sit before me, are making rubbish decisions on behalf of this authority. It’s time they went.”

When asked if the council would be asking consultants Baker Associates to give back any of the £17,550 the council paid for its report, Mr Parker replied: “No. Apart from the misdescription of Manor Farm, you might not like the outcome but the methodology they used was sound and it’s reasonable for the council to use that as a base for consultation.”