Dp the right thing over travellers’ sites

In May 2012 who was in charge of Burnley Council? Labour.

Here are the Minutes of the Executive Committee at Burnley Town Hall on Tuesday, May 29th 2012. Members: Couns Julie Cooper (chair), Howard Baker, John Harbour, Shah Hussain, Andy Tatchell and Mark Townsend.

Minutes No 4. Local Development Scheme 2012-15 and Local Plan Preparation. Purpose: To inform members of progress on the planning framework for Burnley and seek approval to revise the programme through an updated Local Development Scheme covering the period 2012-2015.

To seek approval to tender and appoint suitably qualified consultants to carry out a retail office and leisure study of the borough to establish a Principal Planner post to deliver evidence base work for the Local Plan programme.

Gypsy, traveller and travelling show people accommodation assessment Burnley and Pendle final report. Lisa Scullion and Philip Brown Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit University of Salford August 2012.

In May 2012 Burnley and Pendle Borough Councils commissioned the Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit at the University of Salford to produce a gypsy, traveller and travelling show people accommodation assessment.

The primary purpose of this assessment was to provide up-to-date information and the data regarding the needs and requirements of the gypsy, traveller and travelling show people communities. This report represents the projection of permanent and transit requirements for the following periods.

Also in this report, commissioned by Julie Cooper chairman of the Labour Executive, in collaboration with Pendle Borough Council, it clearly states on page 9 (point 6): “There is little to no evidence of significant need for permanent accommodation arising from the presence of unauthorised encampments within the two boroughs.”

Coun. Mark Townsend, now Leader of Burnley Council, you cannot say the Labour-controlled council did not commission the report as there is clear evidence this was done on June 15th, 2012, at a joint meeting between Burnley officers, Pendle officers and Salford University; following over a month of informal discussions.

It is clear the report is flawed as is the Labour Council’s response to it.

So stop blaming everyone else, listen to the voters of Burnley and put the people of Burnley first and do the right thing as Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen Council have done.

Kate Mottershead

Burnley