No traveller’ssites for Rye area

The Chippings Depot, at Winchelsea Road, Rye and the Guestling Green Highways Depot were both on Rother’s shortlist for potential sites.

But both dropped off when Rother’s services and overview scrutiny committee met on Monday night to discuss the issue.

The committee voted for a final list of four sites, two of which are in Battle.

The sites are Greenacres Farm and Beeches Brook at Battle; Cherry Tree Nursery at Flimwell and a site in Bexhill yet to be identified.

Under Government legislation, permanent pitches for gypsies and travellers must be provided by local authorities.

Rother’s core strategy allows for three permanent pitches from 2011 to 2016 with a further six pitches from 2016 to 2028.

Cllr Ian Jenkins, who has held Rother’s portfolio for travellers since 2006, told the committee that this was a ‘very, very difficult subject’

Rye has had problems in the past with illegal traveller camps setting up on the Salts and at Rye Harbour.

Battle member Cllr Kathryn Field proposed Beeches Brook be removed from the proposal.

She said: “I am not in agreement with site two as it gives out the wrong message - you should just build when you feel like it and put in a retrospective application.” The site on Beeches Farm has a permanent home built retrospectively by a traveller.”

The item still has to be rubber stamped by the next Cabinet Committee.