Deadline approaching to submit public comments on Newark and Sherwood District Council’s traveller pitch plans for former Belvoir Ironworks site on Bowbridge Lane

Residents only have a few more days to submit comments and objections to a highly-debated planning application.

At the start of February Newark and Sherwood District Council submitted plans to develop the former Belvoir Ironworks site on Bowbridge Lane to provide 15 pitches for the gypsy and traveller community.

The plans have divided opinion and received strong feedback, with over 130 comments received from neighbours and members of the public on the application to date.

The district council allows comments to be submitted on a planning application within 21 days of the date of a notification letter, site notice or press advertisement.

From the application’s original publication date, the deadline to submit comments will be this Friday (March 1).

The council has a requirement from government to find land for an additional 169 pitches across the district — 103 of which need to be provided within the next five years.

A number of other locations were looked at and after the ironworks site came forward it was determined it would be suitable for the purpose, and at the same time would dispose of a currently unused industrial site.

However, comments received talk about a overdevelopment in the area — which is close to the ongoing Middlebeck development — and the loss of a green space used by wildlife in the area.

Comments can be made on the application via the district council website, with the reference — 24/00282/FULM.

What are your thoughts? Let us know.