WARRINGTON Borough Council (WBC) says it continues to work closely with neighbouring authorities to identify the accommodation needs for gipsies and travellers.

As reported, councillors approved retrospective proposals for a caravan site in the green belt at Grappenhall Lodge, on Cartridge Lane, last Wednesday.

But committee member Cllr Bob Barr labelled the application and others that are similar as ‘very, very difficult’.

And Cllr Judith Wheeler told members there is a ‘perception’ that it is ‘very unfair that travellers can build in the green belt’.

“This lack of a coherent policy is just not a good model for community cohesion,” she added.

“As a council, we just haven’t addressed this problem.”

However, WBC has defended its position on the matter.

A spokesman said: “The council has a clear policy in place which identifies the need for additional gipsy and travellers pitches to 2027 and provides criteria for the assessment of planning applications.

“This sits within our adopted local plan core strategy.

“Our emerging draft local plan seeks to demonstrate that, with the recent planning permissions granted, the council has more than a 10-year supply of approved sites and provides a clear context for the assessment of any further planning applications in the future.

“We continue to work closely with Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester and Halton councils to identify the accommodation needs for gipsy and travellers.

“The latest Cheshire-wide gipsy, traveller and travelling showpeople accommodation assessment was published earlier this year.”