Council holds consultation on proposed Four Houses Corner traveller site refurbishment near Ufton Nervet

The council is holding a public consultation on a planned traveller site refurbishment.

West Berkshire Council is holding a six-week public consultation on the proposed Four Houses Corner traveller site refurbishment near Ufton Nervet.

It says it wishes to gain as “wide a public view as possible” on the proposals, which are estimated to cost around £3 million.

The scheme intends to deliver 17 pitches and associated individual dayroom accommodation designed to take either one static caravan or two touring caravans — replacing the existing permanent 18 pitch site.

The proposal forms part of the council’s legal commitment to provide adequate accommodation for the gypsy and traveller community.

And it says the refurbishment may also provide it with further options to use this site to meet its wider housing duties, dependent on future occupation numbers.

The current plans remain the same as those presented to ward members and parish councils in 2018 — the only significant change being that a small community block has been replaced by another individual pitch and amenity block.

The council is holding an open public presentation, including a question and answer session, on Monday, December 11 from 6pm until 8pm at St John’s Village Hall, Mortimer Common.

You can contact either 4hc@westberks.gov.uk or write to Four Houses Corner Consultation, Bill Bagnell, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, Newbury, RG14 5LD by 5pm on Friday, December 15 to comment generally or on matters not material to the statutory planning process.

Or visit https://shorturl.at/pCQ19 to comment on the current planning application by 12pm on Monday, January 8, 2024.

All comments received will be summarised and reported to elected members at the Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

The original site facilities were vacated and fully demolished between 2020 and 2022 and the residents housed in temporary accommodation.

This site has been a recognised traveller site since 1982 when the first long lease was granted for the purposes of providing static traveller accommodation.