Temporary site for Traveller family looks set to be approved

RAILWAY STATION CAR PARK WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

A COUNCIL's plan for a temporary two-year Traveller site on a Derbyshire railway station car park is set for approval.

The plan, from Derbyshire Dales District Council, would see a specific homeless Traveller family accommodated in the Matlock railway station car park in Derwent Way for a maximum of two years.

This follows a December council decision to earmark four different sites for temporary use: Matlock railway station, the Old Station Close car park in Rowsley, the Matlock Bath railway station coach park and land to the north-west of Middleton by Wirksworth cemetery.

The allocations of these temporary sites were to act as a stop-gap until permanent sites can be identified and developed, with the council now looking to spend up to £200,000 buying land for this purpose at auction.

In March the council submitted planning applications for Matlock railway station and Rowsley sites.

The Matlock site is already in use and has been in use for many years for the specific Traveller family which the council has a legal responsibility for.