A CAMPAIGN against unauthorised travellers’ sites in the Selby area has been backed by the town’s MP.

Nigel Adams has signed an Early Day Motion pledging his support for the drive.

The motion, which has been signed by 40 other MPs, highlights the issue of green-belt land and unauthorised traveller development.

It states the problem can be tackled if the idea of retrospective planning permission is limited and councils are given stronger powers to deal with unauthorised development.

The motion notes it is “concerned” that travellers are “exploiting delays in the planning enforcement system”.

Despite believing that councils should be given “stronger powers to deal with unauthorised development”, the motion then ends by calling on the Government to give equal treatment to settled and traveller communities.

Mr Adams said: “I was more than happy to sign this Early Day Motion given the problem we have in our district with unauthorised travellers’ sites.”

The move follows a recent planning application for a change of use from a café and truck stop at Peckfield in South Milford to a “gipsy caravan site”.

The application includes the building of a cess tank, drainage and communal washing and toilet facilities.

Construction work at the Peckfield site in South Milford is already well under way and nearby residents say travellers have been living there for the past five months. Mr Adams said he had a meeting with Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and the Selby MP said he was pleased the Mr Pickles wanted to “give local councils much stronger powers” to deal with unauthorised travellers’ sites. As reported in The Press, Bill Hobman, chairman of South Milford Parish Council, said: “The parish council would likely support Selby District Council in their efforts to resolve such matters by provision of properly equipped pitches for travellers at allocated locations.

“Typically we have not been in favour of recommending approval of retrospective planning applications although, in our role as consultees, we do look at each application on its merits.”

•The Press tried several times to contact the York-based Travellers’ Trust, but got no reply.