Table of Contents
More than 30 Irby residents crashed a council meeting on October 1 as questions were raised over the council's response to the traveller site on Towshend Avenue, as reported by the Wirral Globe.
Wirral West MP Matthew Patrick even wrote to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner asking for help on the issue.
The area has become the home of three traveller families on a plot of greenbelt land next to the street.
Residents have expressed their anxiety over their sudden new neighbours. A Temporary Stop Notice was issued in late August, with hardstanding already laid and another home getting a police escort onto the land in mid September.
Wallasey Town Hall was full yesterday, as councillors and residents gathered to question the council's planning committee.
One resident said that the council's failure to act could 'open the floodgates' for similar move ins on other greenbelt land across the borough.
Councillor Skillicorn addressed the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which makes enforcement action harsher in unwanted encampments. It prohibits developmental work without permission like laying hardstanding or concrete.
Mr Skillicorn asked: "When will an injunction to remove the unauthorised works be sought and what happens when the TSN expires?"
One resident questioned how the other home was allowed to be transported onto the site, especially with the TSN in place, and how woodchippers and tree clearance was allowed on the site.
The council chair responded, saying they considered an injunction to remove the caravan, but enforcements officers did not consider the TSN breached, because the connection to the water lines took place before the issuing of the notice, so technically there was no breach.
One resident complained of hearing the hum of generators at night, which one councillor said should be taken up with the Environmental Health department.
Residents continued to gruel the councillors over how the travellers could continue to live on the site. They also questioned the council's care for their mental health and wellbeing.
One person said: “There is a lot of fear, anxiety and stress. Residents have had to add CCTV, security measures, different school routes. No-one has checked the welfare of constituents despite communicating mental health red flags to authorities.”
The status of the planning application supposedly submitted by the travellers raises a point of contention. However, the application submitted was deemed invalid as the information provided was vague.
Councillor Kelly said the applicants were amending their application with more information to ensure its validity.
Staying on in another meeting, Mr Skillicorn stayed and spoke to Irby residents over the issue, and said the council should follow "established principles" before action can be taken.
When the application is amended and live on the council's planning portal, residents will be able to consult on it.
Two main concerns were raised with him.
The first was the "delay tactics" employed by the travellers in the vague planning application. One residents reasoned the development had been "legitimised by delay”.
However, Mr Skillicorn said the council must take the mistakes at face value with the planning application.
Residents were also frustrated that Wirral Council had failed to secure a high court injunction to prevent building on the site in the first place.
One person compared it unfavourably with East Hertfordshire District Council, which blocked travellers from beginning works at a site in Sawbridgeworth in September.
Another point shared raised concerns over how even though the council has protections on its greenbelt land, they haven't done that.
However, Councillor Skillicorn said that this was an isolated incident, as the council hasn't faced such issues before. Enforcement powers remain limited because the TSN was enforced after construction works had finished on the site.
