Plans to redevelop Coventry travellers site

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Plans to redevelop Coventry travellers site

Postby dutchman » Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:04 am

Travellers could be charged £95 per week in rent

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A travellers site in Coventry could be redeveloped and run under new management.

The Siskin Drive transit site is set to be taken over by Rooftop Housing Group which is seeking a 99-year lease and is set to charge travellers £95 per week in rent to stay on revamped larger pitches.

The site is described as being in a “poor condition” at the moment and in need of redevelopment.

The plans would lead to a reduction on the 16 existing pitches to create 12 larger ones.

The site is owned and run by Coventry City Council but has been largely unused for a number of years.

It is hoped the redevelopment will reduce the number of unauthorised encampments in the city, which have cost a whopping £229,730 in the last five years alone.

Redevelopment is estimated at £1.6 million, however all of the costs would be passed onto Rooftop under the lease agreement, with a possible Homes England grant covering 65% of the total.

It is a change in tack from just a couple years ago where the council’s head of environmental services Craig Hickin told a council meeting Siskin Drive was “not suitable” as it was already too small.

Opposition Conservative councillors have previously called for “reasonable” solutions to deter costly unauthorised encampments, but doubt has been raised as to whether the plans for Siskin Drive are the answer.

Cllr Allan Andrews, deputy Conservative leader, said: “I welcome the fact that this issue is finally being addressed by the council following months of pressure from Conservative councillors.

“Whilst this is much needed progress, this proposed way forward is at odds with what we’ve previously been led to believe. This plan seeks to make the site smaller, yet in recent times we have been advised that the site was too small to be viable.

“The council also proposes a rent of £95 per week, which would surely serve as a disincentive for the travelling community.

“This would do nothing to resolve the frustrating and costly game of cat and mouse that causes so much angst in many of our local communities across Coventry. I do appreciate that this is a tricky issue to navigate for the council, and though progress is welcome, we will be seeking further information on some aspects of these proposals.”

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Re: Plans to redevelop Coventry travellers site

Postby rebbonk » Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:52 pm

Travellers could be charged £95 per week in rent


:rolling: :rolling: :rolling:
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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