Ex-mayor suggests new M62 services as possible traveller transit site

It comes following Warrington Borough Council’s failed attempts to establish a site at Kenyon Lane Nurseries near Croft.

Former Mayor Geoff Settle says he finds it hard to believe that a decision to identify a suitable gypsy and traveller's transit site has taken so long.

He was a member of the first cross-party task group on the issue more than a decade ago.

“Obviously, where the sites will be located is a difficult and controversial decision,” he said.

“Kenyon Lane Nurseries was not available 10 years ago, but I believe it would have been ranked above those chosen back then.

“The site entrance has good access that can easily be widened, the necessary amenities are on tap, and it can easily accommodate the number of pitches required.”

“I have lost count of the number of illegal encampments that have been set up in my ward of Poulton North, and I have notified the council on numerous occasions about the five favourite sites that have been reoccupied over the years.

“Poulton North has become a place littered with massive concrete blocks and barriers to stop vehicles gaining access, just like the barriers at Silver Lane in Croft, where they are very frequent visitors after they have angle-grinded the barrier open.”

Geoff says that the first task group he sat on identified up to 200 potential sites, and that confidentiality was the order of the day to avoid conflict between communities.

Former mayor of Warrington Geoff Settle

“Back then, councillors were not media savvy, so there was little disinformation being spread through the press and social media, but that has all changed now,” he continued.

“We were shown around the well-run Halton site by the man who managed the site and collected the rent.

“We were told that Warrington must follow suit to meet its legal obligations, otherwise there would be a high cost to move on the travellers from each illegal site and they would continue to return.

“I wonder how much of the capital programme allocation of £2million remains.

“Following the announcement of the planned new motorway service station, at the end of Silver Lane and junction 11 of the M62, could that be a possible location for a new Gypsy and Travellers site?”

As previously reported by the Warrington Guardian, plans have been submitted to the council seeking reserved matters consent for the services at Birchwood.

Such an application seeks to confirm the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the site, following the granting of outline permission upon appeal in 2022.

Geoff added: “As chair of Warrington Nature Conservation Forum, I want to see Silver Lane Lakes thrive as a nature reserve.

“It is a place that I have recently revisited after 20 years, and it is amazing to see how it has successfully matured.

“Instead of WBC and councillors shelling taxpayers’ money on unauthorised traveller transit sites, I would rather they spend our money on things that will benefit Warrington people’s health and wellbeing through nature conservation.”