3:36pm Friday 2nd March 2007
By Carl Brown
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to move travellers off the Olympic site on to a park has been given the go ahead.
The London Development Agency (LDA) applied to move travellers from Clays Lane to Major Road, near the Leyton border.
The proposals involve the demolition of a playground, sports pitches, and a community centre.
Newham Council has received petitions containing more than 1,000 signatures from residents who feel that the removal of green space and sports facilities in a heavily residential area cannot be justified.
The travellers also oppose the move, they believe the Major Road site is unsuitable and will lead to them unfairly being blamed for the loss of amenities.
Speaking at a fiery meeting of Newham Council's planning committee last Thursday, Tracie Giles, representing the travellers, said: "My family have lived at Clays Lane for 36 years, four generations of one family, we are well integrated with the local community.
"The Major Road site is surrounded by four busy roads, we would be like animals in a zoo, we would become a target."
The chairman of the Save Major Road action group Jonathan Green said that the area around Major Road is deficient in green space as it is.
He added: "There has been more than 1,000 objections, the feeling in this community is incredibly strong, we don't want to come into conflict with the travellers.
"We live in probably the most culturally diverse borough in the country, I can't think of any other ethnic group that would be treated as the travellers have been treated, it is disgusting, putting families on a traffic island."
A council officers' report said the application went against council policies regarding loss of facilities for recreation and the protection of green space.
But members decided that this would be offset by improvements to existing areas of open space, including Draper's Field in Leyton.
Permission was also given for the playground to be moved a green space in Chandos Road, while other facilities will be relocated to Stratford Park.
Despite repeated pleas from the travellers and residents that they have not been consulted properly, LDA director Gareth Blacker said: "This is the culmination of more than two years' worth of detailed consultation and planning work with the council and the travellers themselves.
"We will continue this process with the travellers and the adjoining residents to ensure that this decision provides an acceptable solution for the local communtiy."
As the application is against the council's unitary development plan, the Government Office for London now has a couple of weeks in which to call in the appliication for a public inquiry.
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