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John and Netta Palmer and fellow Hardens Mead residents who are protesting at the gypsy site plans

SCORES of people in Chippenham have signed a petition in a bid to stop a gypsy site being built close to their homes.

Families from the Hardens Mead and Long Close area were outraged to learn that land at the back of their homes had been earmarked for use as a gypsy and traveller site.

Now disgruntled neighbours have got together, with support from their local councillors, to protest against the idea.

The land between Long Close and Hardens Mead could potentially house a 24-pitch site for travellers.

John Palmer's home in Hardens Mead is just feet away from the suggested site. "We have got bags of support here at the moment and there's two petitions going round," he said.

"We couldn't believe it when we heard the plans and hadn't been told.

"The council tried to rush it all through quietly but they came unstuck."

Mr Palmer's wife Netta said: "You can just imagine it can't you? Caravans here with all the other stuff that comes with them.

"It was also pointed out to us that our houses won't be worth anything. We're doing the petition because we want to get our views into the council early to show the amount of support we've got."

Many people from the area turned out for a North Wiltshire District Council meeting on Thursday night to let their views be known.

Members of the executive committee were forced to agree to go to public consultation after hearing person after person complain about the way plans for up to 24 new gypsy pitches were being pushed through.

The council has been given £250,000 by the Government to pay for the sites.

Six sites were identified by estate agents Humberts, which were commissioned to make a report.

The potential sites included two in Calne, one in Wootton Bassett and up to three in Chippenham.

At one stage council leader Dick Tonge called security because the meeting became difficult for him to control.

This week the council said consultation will start within the next two weeks and last for six. A spokesman said: "The consultation will not only cover sites known to the council as potentially available but will also call for the community to suggest suitable alternatives."

Lead member for housing, Coun Howard Greenman, said: "I am well aware how sensitive this issue is for both the local community and our gypsy community."

10:08am Thursday 1st May 2008

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