Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, has voiced his concern over plans to build a new gypsy site off Sycamore Street in Blaby close to Bouskell Park, within the village’s conservation area.
The application, submitted recently, asks for permission to construct three residential gypsy pitches, alongside room for mobile homes, touring caravans and a utility block. The site in question was previously the subject of an enforcement notice being issued following the removal of protected trees without prior permission.
Alberto said, ‘Since the application was recently submitted, I have received a very large amount of correspondence from constituents outlining their serious concerns over the proposals in question. The site is within the Blaby Conservation Area, is situated particularly close to Bouskell Park and was previously the location of a number of protected trees being clear without permission, much to the upset of many local residents. It is not my place to decide planning matters, however I very much share these concerns and will be making the appropriate representations to the local planning authority”.
Alberto added, “I have today written to the leadership of Blaby District Council, not to pass judgement on the application in question, but to inform them of the level of concern and anxiety many of my constituents are feeling toward these proposals. I have no doubt that the Council’s brilliant Planning Team and Planning Committee will provide the application with the property scrutiny it deserves, while ensuring the views and opinions of my constituents are heard accordingly. Further I will soon be speaking to Ministers about introducing stronger legislation that will provide local authorities with greater powers to deliberate upon similar applications”.
Picture above shows Alberto speaking in the House of Commons.
