RESIDENTS have been left surprised at plans to fence off land in St Asaph which has been proposed for a permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site.

A Pre-planning consultation took place over the autumn 2018 regarding Denbighshire County Council's intention to submit two planning applications for a permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site with six pitches and a transit Gypsy and Traveller site with five pitches on Greengates Farm.

In late March, the Cabinet decided to progress only the permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site with six pitches to the planning application stage.

Cabinet decided it would not progress the proposed Gypsy and Traveller Transit site in this location and instead, it would be considered as part of wider discussions around a replacement Local Development Plan.

Letters have now gone out to residents in Cwttir Lane outlining what activities will be taking place over the next few months in order to progress the proposed permanent site to the planning application stage.

Land required for the proposed development is to be fenced in order to separate it from the adjacent land for "grazing purposes".

Fencing will comprise timber post and rail/strung wire fencing with a maximum height of 1.2metres.

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The letter sent out to residents on Cwttir Lane

Cllr Peter Scott, new mayor of St Asaph and former chair of DCC, said: "Typically of Denbighshire County Council the only residents notified are the Cwttir Lane inhabitants and not the whole of St Asaph.

"My concerns are on the second page of the letter stating "that the land required for the proposed development will shortly be fenced in order to separate it from adjacent land for grazing purposes". Surely this will look like the situation is a done deal to members of the public? Members of the public will conclude the site has already been allocated.

"I have written to Denbighshire and received a response saying the area for the proposed residential site no longer forms part of the farm business tenancy nor grazing licence agreement with the tenant farmer. The area needs to be fenced off to ensure that the tenant's livestock does not have access to the area.

"I find it a little fortuitous that the tenants agreement has run out now, whereas he's been able to let his stock graze on the land up until present.

"I thought the tenant had an agreement until March 2020 but have no proof of such.

"I have already had several people ring me and say they have seen [on social media] that the resident gypsy site had been agreed. I feel that DCC are pre-empting the decision and getting the residents use to the fact the site has been agreed by fencing it off."

A spokesperson from Denbighshire County Council said: "The Council will now be undertaking further activities over the next few months to progress the proposed permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site to the planning application stage. This will include:

"Ground investigation work on the proposed site;

"Further ecology survey work on and around the proposed site;

"An extended Highways survey to consider any impact from the proposal on traffic (to include the Roe, part of Lower Denbigh Road, Glascoed Road, Ffordd William Morgan);

"Business and Residential Impact assessments and Revising and updating documents ahead of the planning application.

"The Council is reassuring residents that no development will take place in this fenced area without appropriate planning permission.

"The Council is expecting that a planning application will be ready for submission in the summer.

"At this stage, there will be an opportunity for interested parties to submit any representations on material planning considerations through the statutory planning consultation process."