A PETITION has been launched in an attempt to prevent Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) putting a borough-wide Gipsy transit site in Whitegate and Marton.

The Guardian reported in May that the council had compiled a report with a list of 26 preliminary sites which were being considered to house a Gipsy and traveller transit site in order to meet government requirements.

Four of the sites are in Whitegate and Marton, and one in Winsford, but the traffic light system used in the report suggests that one particular site in at Marton Villa Farm in Clay Lane, is one of the most likely options.

Following the report in May, Whitegate Parish Council and members of the Whitegate and Marton community came together to discuss how to object to the possibility of the site being placed in the village.

An e-petition has now been launched on the council’s website asking for members of the public to sign their name and support the objection.

The petition states: “We the undersigned believe that the proposal for development of a transit traveller site in the parish of Whitegate and Marton fails to meet the needs of the travelling community and should be rejected.

“Public amenities in the parish are very limited. Specifically, there are no shops, bank, post office, doctors’ surgery, dentist, secondary school, library, petrol station or police station and no public transport to access such services in neighbouring parishes.

“Whitegate and Marton is a picturesque rural parish which forms part of the Cheshire Leisure Drive, National Cycle Network, and the Delamere Loop.

“The recently completed Whitegate and Marton Neighbourhood Plan focuses strongly on the wishes of parishioners to protect this rural environment and the tourism upon which much of the parish’s economic activity depends.

“In particular the Whitegate Way, which is a popular and beautiful walking area surrounded by areas of green space connected by narrow rural lanes, is seen as the essential heart of the parish requiring special protection where such development would be inappropriate.”

Cllr Mike Baynham, ward member for Winsford Over and Verdin, has given his support to objectors, saying he will fight to stop the site being put in the parish.

“I welcome the setting up of the e-petition in that it asks for public support in rejecting the proposal of a Gipsy and traveller site in Whitegate and Marton,” said Cllr Baynham.

“It is important that all sites proposed are sustainable, suitable and in keeping with their surrounding area. The consultants who made the site selection list should have seen that in this rural location which relies on tourism, there are no transport links or public amenities nearby which makes it entirely unsuitable for the traveller community.

“If the petition reaches one per cent of the total residents of the borough (around 3,000 supporters) then it will trigger further debate at council or cabinet.”

To sign the petition go cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and click on the ‘consultations and petitions’ tab.