A PROPOSED travellers site outside York is "completely inappropriate", Julian Sturdy has claimed.

Mr Sturdy, the MP for York Outer, visited the Naburn site south of the Designer Outlet, which has been earmarked for a 15-pitch camp under City of York Council's local plan.

The land is council-owned, but farmed by local man Roger Jewitt, who led the tour with Councillor Laurie Gunson.

Mr Sturdy said: "It is clear from seeing the site first-hand how completely inappropriate this location is for Gypsies, Romas and Travellers.

"Not only is it slap bang in the middle of the greenbelt, which national planning policy says is unacceptable, it is also far too close to one of York’s most successful retail sites. There is no logic whatsoever to this allocation, other than that, as Council-owned land, the authority have a willing landowner. They absolutely must look again at their Traveller accommodation needs assessment."