Flood-prone traveller site in one of Nottinghamshire's best places to live given another year

Temporary permission for a gypsy and traveller site in Newark has been extended despite fears flood risks in the area could lead to a “complete non-mitigated disaster”.

Newark & Sherwood District Council has granted final approval to extend the temporary status of Park View Caravan Park, on Tolney Lane in Newark, allowing it to continue operating as a gypsy and traveller site.

The land spans about 0.6 hectares – equivalent to the size of a football pitch.

It is currently being used as a temporary gypsy and traveller caravan site for up to 15 caravans.

Applicants listed as D Bower and W Bower submitted plans to make it a permanent site in January this year.

However, both the Environment Agency and Newark Town Council objected, saying there are flood risks at the site.

The district council recommended extending the site’s temporary status instead of granting it permanent approval.

The planning application was discussed at Newark & Sherwood’s planning committee meeting on Thursday, June 5.

Cllr Linda Dales (Con) backed the idea of extending the temporary permission, highlighting the shortage of gypsy and traveller sites in the area.

She said in the meeting: “I hope that in a year’s time that we have a Tolney Lane flood alleviation scheme under way.

“Where would they go, if they weren’t here? We don’t have sufficient pitches [for travellers] available.

“I’m in favour of supporting these recommendations.”

Cllr Adrian Amer (Ind) urged more Government funding to help flood risks in Newark, saying it is a “disaster waiting to happen” – adding addressing flood risks along Tolney Lane is just “one part of the jigsaw puzzle”.

He said: “We’ve seen by floods in the last year or two what havoc they create.

“Why are we allowed to let a community feel settled and happy living [in this area], where if we have major floods – it will be a complete non-mitigated disaster.

“I cannot get my head around it. We all know the Government is not putting any money for this sort of alleviation in any event.

“We’re really just fooling ourselves. It’s not just Tolney Lane, its the whole Newark-on-Trent area.

“As soon as we can put pressure on national Government, get funding, The Environment Agency, the Canals and River Trust, and anybody else who is directly involved.

“We are swimming in the Trent here, we have no influence about what’s going to happen.”

Some councillors questioned why the temporary permission is only being extended for a year – rather than being made permanent.

Cllr Keith Melton (Lib Dem) said in the meeting: “It leaves me with an impression that allowing the application for just a year is a way of trying not to get the blame if something goes wrong.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable. I would rather see it as a permanent solution with support from the Environment Agency.

“I’ll go along with it because it seems to be the only thing on offer at the moment.”

The authority gave the green light to extend temporary permission at the site until 30 June 2026.

The plans were approved with a unanimous vote.