Permanent traveller site approved in Coventry as derelict development to be demolished

The plans have been welcomed by a local councillor



A new permanent traveller site has been given the green light by Coventry City Council. Siskin Drive, on the outskirts to the south east of Coventry, has a long association with such plans.

The spot has been an allocated traveller site since the 1970s but issues have regularly arisen and it has sat empty and unused for a number of years. But this looks set to change with plans submitted by a housing association accepted by the council this week.

The proposal on behalf of Rooftop Housing Group states: "Demolition of the existing brick structures on-site and erection of 12 new permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, each to include parking, an accommodation block and a fenced-off garden with a shed. Creation of new private access road, turning head and visitor parking."

The description in the application itself adds: "Demolition of the existing brick structures on-site and erection of 12 new permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers. The Proposed Development is located in Coventry, Siskin Drive.

"The access road will be private, designed to adoptable standards, shared by pedestrians and cars. A turning head has been proposed allowing refuse vehicle and emergency vehicle circulation. Each plot will have a rear-fenced garden with a shed."

CoventryLive has approached Rooftop Housing for further comment. The news has been welcomed by Councillor Roger Bailey, who represents Cheylesmore, the ward in which the site is located.

Cllr Bailey said: "It is good to see that the existing site is not only being demolished but replaced by 12 permanent pitches, as we needed to provide such a service in the Coventry area and the current site was just a mess to be honest. Hopefully this will also help reduce the number of illegal occupations that take place in and around the city."

A Coventry City Council spokesman said: “Planning consent has been granted and we look forward to continuing to work with Rooftop Housing Group to deliver the permanent traveller site.”

... permanent traveller site ...

An oxymoron if I ever heard one!