Memorandum by Ashfield District Council
(TF 50)
Ashfield District Council has in fact been most
supportive of the special needs of travelling showmen, and indeed
a major site has been implemented following the grant of planning
permission at Pinxton. Since the implementation of this large-scale
project, and following a boundary review, the site now sits within
the Bolsover District Council administrative area.
Our Adopted Local Plan includes a specific policy
(Policy P35) and I enclose a copy of this policy for your information.
[4]
With regards to the other site referred to in
correspondence this relates to part of a Bentinck Colliery complex
which ceased operations several weeks ago. A representation has
been made from the Showman's Guild as to the suitability of part
of this site. The site in question is that of the former Colliery
car park, which is located on the opposite side of the public
highway to the main Colliery complex, and the site is currently
protected by its countryside designation on our Local Plan. The
Local Plan is currently being reviewed, and representations that
such should be allocated for the Travelling Showman's Guild are
being considered. The final version of the Local Plan is programmed
to be published during the Spring of this year.
In the meantime, initial discussions have been
held with their Planning Consultant, Mr I Baseley, and I believe
that it is possible that a planning application may be submitted
in the near future, which would clearly have to be assessed against
the planning policies contained within the Adopted Local Plan,
and the ongoing review.
Finally, whilst the post script to the correspondence
indicates correctly that another site in the centre of Kirkby-in-Ashfield
has been allocated for retail development on our current Local
Plan Review, and it is certainly possible that such may therefore
be lost as a Showman's facility, there does of course remain the
major site, now immediately adjacent to the Ashfield District
Council boundary, which was permitted by my Authority some years
ago (in the face of what I should add was considerable local opposition
at that time).
I would add that the existing site referred
to is clearly well run, and maintained. It is located immediately
adjacent to a village within Ashfield, and certainly as far as
I am aware there have been no problems whatsoever associated with
the development within the existing community.
Head of Development Services
March 2000
4 Ev. not printed. For further information please
contact Ashfield District Council. Back
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