Guildford Borough Council faces opposition from campaigners over Shalford travellers site plans

A public meeting will take place on the 19th January at the Shalford Village Hall to discuss plans to develop a new caravan travellers site.

It's being organised by Shalford councillor James Palmer and council leader Tony Rooth is also expected to attend.

The debate centres over the site of a disused tip at a green belt plot of land in Stonebridge and the council's plans to turn it into a 32-caravan site. Local residents groups such as the Stonebridge Action Group (STAG) and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have been protesting strongly against this idea.

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust [WACT] have also had their say on the matter.

"WACT is neutral on the provision of travellers sites in Guildford except insofar as it affects the ability of the Trust to fulfil its objectives," said Chairman Sally Schupke in a statement.

"The Stonebridge site, adjacent to Gun's Mouth, is probably the only site at the northern end of the canal that is suitable for the provision of 'off-line' moorings.

"It is not currently the intention of the Trust itself to provide such moorings. The funding for such work, even if the site was not contaminated, would be beyond the resources of the Trust at present. We have a canal to restore first. Were such facilities to be made available by another party in future there would obviously be potential advantages to the Trust and we are keen that the option of providing these moorings on this site be kept open for future consideration and use.

"We have made this point to GBC [Guildford Borough Council] both by letter to the Leader of the Council and in a recent meeting with the Head of Planning."

What do you think? Do you think the campaigners have a point? Do you welcome more traveller sites in the borough? Let us know with a comment.