Branksome Triangle 'not suitable' for travellers, residents say

This is the view of around 100 residents and more who filled St Aldhelm’s Church in Lindsay Road, Poole on Wednesday night for a public meeting. 

Led by a committee of four residents, they will now fight against BCP Council’s proposals to place a dedicated traveller site slap bang in the middle of the residential area off Bourne Valley Road. 

During the two-hour public meeting, many points were made about how the disused former industrial site now car park is not appropriate for people to live. 

Some hit out at the council’s administration and its leader for “no transparency” and accused them of making decisions behind closed doors. 

Branksome Triangle (Image: Daily Echo)

Sixteen sites were considered as a home for travellers before discussion was centred on Branksome.

Despite FOIs being submitted, the council has so far refused to reveal how the decision to move forward in Branksome was made. 

The meeting heard how the site, a former coal yard, is “contaminated” after years of build-up and break-down of coal. 

Committee member Gavin Parsons said: “The lack of consultation from the council has shocked me.  

“There are sand lizards there, protected species and we have requested for a survey on the site by BCP Council but it was denied. 

“I was shocked, it’s unbelievable, I’ve never heard anything of it. They said they’ll conduct the survey themselves.”

Ward councillor Phil Broadhead (Image: Daily Echo)

He added there had been a contaminated land survey done some years ago which revealed there was a “moderate high risk of contamination”. 

Resident Peter Storms stood up and said: “If they won’t build houses on there, I see no reason for them to endanger travellers’ lives. 

“I have my suspicions there is ego and revenge involved in this [decision-making from the administration].” 

Another resident angrily added: “They work for us and do what we tell them to do. It’s about time they are held accountable.” 

Committee member Daniel Parkin said: “There are no racial connotations to this. We would still be here if it was Ukrainians or a new block of flats. 

“It was a last-minute decision; the local authority had five years to put [the local plan] together but councillors were only made aware of the site two days before. It was a closed-door decision.” 

Ward councillor Phil Broadhead told the meeting: “This administration has taken the decision at the very last minute to put this in. 

“The only chance we have got of stopping this is to co-ordinate our efforts, it’s why it’s great to have this community event, Facebook pages, to make sure we get all our arguments together. 

“Let’s get hundreds, thousands of responses to this consultation so that not only do they know our strength of feeling, but when that goes to the planning inspector, he will look it and go not only is it causing a lot of aggro but with all this evidence this is not a suitable or deliverable site.” 

The council has said it must include a traveller site in its new local plan in order to pass through the planning inspectorate.  

A consultation period for the local plan will take place on March 20.  

Cllr Millie Earl, deputy leader and portfolio holder for connected communities, said:

“The draft Local Plan sets out our plan for addressing housing needs of all kinds, from starter homes to extra care and include those for the settled traveller community.

“We have a legal requirement to meet the accommodation needs of those from the traveller community who are already based in the local area. This community is expanding, and they require more space to live.

“We are aiming to launch a full public consultation on the Local Plan in March, which will give us the opportunity to hear what residents have to say. 

“Following the public Local Plan consultation, the Local Plan will need to be agreed by a Planning Inspector and indications are that this won’t be until mid-2025.

“We would then need further planning approval for a detailed scheme for Branksome Triangle, which would involve additional consultation and a democratic council process.”