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Travellers Site Victory
“Common sense and people power has won the day” says Stephen O’Brien MP
Following a vigorous and hard fought campaign by the Cuddington & Sandiway Residents Group (CSRG) and their local MP Stephen O’Brien, they have successfully fought off plans for a traveller site on Chester Road, Sandiway.
Stephen O’Brien hosted a public meeting with the CSRG at Cuddington Primary School – which was attended by hundreds of concerned residents - in October of last year. Hundreds more made their views known by writing to Vale Royal Borough Council, as well as signing a petition opposing the proposed site which was presented to both the Chief Executive of Vale Royal Borough Council and the House of Commons.
The Eddisbury MP also warned that the battle would continue to fight off plans for two sites in Winsford, which were approved at the Executive meeting on the 15th January, stating “the site selection criteria and consultation process, was flawed from the outset and continues to be so.”
Welcoming the campaign’s success Stephen O’Brien said: “I am delighted that our campaign has succeeded in fighting off the council’s plans for a traveller site in Cuddington and Sandiway – this is a victory for common sense and people power.”
“At our public meeting in October last year, hundreds of local people joined with us to successfully beat off the council’s plans to establish a traveller site at Cuddington and Sandiway. I would like to give special thanks to the CSRG for their hard work on behalf of local people and Vale Royal. My thanks also to all those who wrote to the council, signed our petition and attended the public and council meetings to air their views and opinions.
“This is an indication of what we can achieve when we are all working together with a common purpose and determination of will.”
“And while this success is very welcome indeed, the battle must go on to fight off plans for two further travellers sites in Winsford itself – as far as I am concerned this is one down, two more to go.
“The site selection criteria and consultation process is, and continues to be seriously flawed. Nothing in that has changed!!
Nicola McKendrick, spokesperson for the Cuddington & Sandiway Residents Group said: ““This common sense result comes after seven months of uncertainty for the local community. We would like to thank Stephen O’Brien and his office for their considerable support, as well as the local residents for the professional manner in which they fought the campaign. Clearly from the outset the proposed site was never suitable for a gypsy and traveller site, something that was reflected in Councillor’s views and voting at the meeting last week. We are very pleased that common sense has prevailed"
22nd January 2009
   
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