THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council and the district’s MP are at odds over gypsy and traveller sites.

MP Mark Garnier says Wyre Forest does not need more sites and the report by Baker Associates, used to create a shortlist of potential pitches, is flawed. He believes communities have been caused unnecessary distress by the consultation process.

Councillor John Campion denies fellow Conservative Mr Garnier’s claims, in his Shuttle column and newsletter, that the authority has based ongoing consultation on the outdated Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

“It’s it simply not true,” he said. “The figures the council is using are based on evidence that it used to influence the RSS, not figures the RSS have given us. This is an important distinction that should be understood.”

Mr Garnier said: “I am seriously concerned that the process Wyre Forest District Council are using has caused great distress to many communities around Wyre Forest – in some cases unnecessarily – as they have been removed from the consultation process.”

Mr Campion said: “The point of the current consultation is so that we can meet identified demand and defend unauthorised development in our countryside and open spaces.

“Neither I, nor the district council,would needlessly attempt to navigate this emotive issue, unless it was absolutely essential to protect our community’s interests.”

He added: “If the Member of Parliament wants to support the communities of Wyre Forest over the gypsy traveller issue I would suggest it would be best executed by influencing National Planning policy in Westminster that would allow local communities to truly have what they clearly want on this issue, as the current draft Government Gypsy Traveller Draft Policy says ‘if a local planning authority has not planned for a five-year supply of traveller pitches/plots, the draft policy asks them to treat favourably applications for a temporary permission’.”

Mr Garnier said: “While my constituents continue to come to me looking for support on this issue, I will continue to stand up for them.

“I will make a formal submission to Wyre Forest District Council on this issue and my submission will have three elements – that Wyre Forest does not need any more provision, that Wyre Forest District Council has handled this incredibly poorly, causing unnecessary distress to many communities, and that the Baker Report is flawed in much of its content.”