Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee unanimously approve application to make temporary Traveller site on Park View Caravan Park, Tolney Lane, Newark, permanent

Plans to make a temporary Traveller site on a former abattoir in Newark permanent have been unanimously approved by a planning committee.

Park View Caravan Park, on Tolney Lane, was previously used as an abattoir until the mid-90s, and over the years various applications have been put forward.

Temporary permission was granted for named individuals to live on site in September 2014 on a temporary basis until September 2018, and this permission has continually been extended. An application to make this permanent was first refused in 2017 on grounds of flood risk, and again in 2021 for the same reason.

Newark Town Council objected to these plans at a council meeting in February this year, stating that the grounds flooding posed a risk to life, and the Environment Agency has also objected and recommended refusal due to the flood risk.

A district environmental health officer has advised that as the site had been used as an abattoir, there is potential contamination.

The latest application bids to make the whole site permanent for one year, rather than only for those previously named individuals, and was recommended by officers for approval when it was discussed at Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee meeting last night (Thursday).

The flooding issues were discussed by the members, with Lynda Tift saying that the Traveller community living on Tolney Lanes were very “robust”:

“The community living down there are not stupid people, in the event of an evacuation we have a sound procedure in place.

“It’s a great pity that we’re only doing it for a year but I will support it.”

Keith Melton asked the question that if the plans were turned down, what would happen then? To which Matt Lamb replied that if the applicants didn’t appeal the decision, there is no consent so the council would have to begin enforcement processes.

Lynda Dales said that she would support the plans, as if not there then where would the Travellers go? “There aren’t enough spaces as it is and I’m in favour of supporting the recommendation.”

Adrian Amer expressed his frustration that the community were living on a flood plain as was half of Newark, and more pressure needs to be put on the government for funding for flooding and climate change.

Chairman Andy Freeman said that while the Traveller community living on Tolney Lane were “adept” at dealing with flooding, and they would be assisted in the event of a flood, but he had a lot of sympathy with the residents.

“I hope that in a year we will be in a better position, but climate change is getting worse and it’s not just there, it’s the whole of Newark.”