BUSINESSES on Winsford Industrial Estate have joined forces to fight council plans for a permanent gipsy plot at the site entrance.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) has identified six potential traveller sites in the borough, including a 10 plot site at the Bostock Road entrance to the town’s industrial estate and 20 pitches on land off Blakeden Land, behind the Cheshire Police Headquarters.

At the industrial estate’s AGM, held last week, business owners were told that two of the 13 hectares at the council-owned site would be transformed into permanent accommodation for traveller showmen if plans were given the nod.

A specialist group dedicated to fighting the council’s proposals has been created and will discuss concerns about the inappropriate mix of residential plots with an industrial environment and a lack of public consultation about the plans.

Mike Kelly, estate manager, said the businesses on the estate felt ‘let down’ by the council.

“We want to keep businesses in Winsford and these plans go wholly against that,” he said.

“That site would be much better served with new offices or warehouses, earmarking it for residence is completely inappropriate given the commercial surroundings.

“As business owners these people pay rates and bring in money to the local economy, yet the overwhelming feeling is that their views have not been consulted so far.

“We are now at the stage where the council is drawing up designs to go before a planning committee which for many makes it feel like it is already a done deal.

“However we truly believe that an industrial estate is not the right place for a residential site and we have united to oppose these plans and make our voices heard.”