My speech to Council can be viewed here.
“On Thursday 24 January 2013, at a meeting of the Leicester City Council, I will join my fellow Beaumont Leys Councillors in strongly opposing the City Mayor’s decision to build a 6-pitch travellers site on Greengate Lane in Beaumont Leys.
Unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments have been causing a nuisance in Beaumont Leys for many decades. However this is a problem that has affected the whole city and there must therefore be a city-wide solution.
The planned site poses a real threat to the city’s Green Wedge, local environment, residential amenity and transport infrastructure, and travellers themselves have also voiced serious concerns.
Building a travellers site in Beaumont Leys and another larger site in nearby Abbey ward is completely unacceptable to a large number of my constituents. Consequently I will be voting AGAINST the City Mayor’s decision at Council and urging all Councillors to do the same.
I hope that the City Mayor will think again on this extremely important issue.”
Cllr Sundip Meghani
What was the outcome
Regrettably those of us who are opposed to the plans were unable to convince enough Councillors to reject the Mayor’s decision. But the fight goes on and we will work to strongly oppose the planning application, when it goes to the Planning Committee in a few months.
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