OPPONENTS of a travellers site in Dunnington are “relieved” the plans are likely to be dropped - but one of York’s MPs said the issue has put them through “a year of torment”.

Dunnington councillor Jenny Brooks said: “We’re obviously very pleased that the council has listened to the reasons and arguments put forward by the community over why this site would be unsuitable for development of any sort, not just a travellers’ site.

“We are very keen for the land to remain a buffer between the village and its industrial estate, which is what the green belt is all about. Villagers feel it needs to stay as an open site and they are relieved at this news.”

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, welcomed the recommendation not to include the Dunnington and Malton Road sites for travellers accommodation in the Local Plan, but said: “I’m disappointed it’s taken this long for the council to come to its senses - since the Local Plan was first announced, these communities have been protesting on the obvious grounds of harm to the green belt and open countryside, and yet it’s taken a year of torment for the council to realise residents were right all along.

“Disappointingly, the council has not applied the same logic to the new seven-pitch travellers site proposed in Elvington. Residents there will doubtless be up in arms about the impact of the new proposals on the village, and I will be doing all I can to get the council to see sense.”