Stanton Wick residents protest over travellers' site plans
Campaigners against proposals for a travellers' site near their Somerset homes have staged a protest in Bath.
Some 60 people gathered outside the Guildhall ahead of a Bath and North East Somerset council cabinet meeting. The Stanton Wick Action Group says a permanent traveller site at the Pensford Colliery buildings would be "inappropriate and damaging". A public consultation is being held over six possible sites, including one at the hamlet of Stanton Wick. The other possible locations are at Whitchurch, Radstock, Keynsham, Newbridge and Twerton. Clarke Osborne, chair of the action group, said the proposed settlement would "dominate" the Stanton Wick hamlet "by at least three to one". The issues surrounding Gypsy and traveller site provision will be discussed at a special council meeting on 18 June. No authorised sites for the travelling community are currently provided by the council. Over the past 10 years, there have been about 20 unauthorised traveller sites across the district.