THE CONSULTATION into controversial plans to build new travellers’ sites across the Selby District has ended.

Selby District Council has received more than a thousand letters and emails from residents who wanted to voice their concern about the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD), which outlined 60 potential locations for the travellers’ sites.

Hundreds of residents turned out at parish council meetings to discuss the plan, and public concern was so great that the council decided to extend the consultation period by four weeks.

A council spokesman said the overwhelming public response had been very useful and once the responses had been reviewed, they would help to shape future plans.

The spokesman said: “It’s generated a lot of local interest, which is good because that means we can ensure the document reflects and needs and aspirations of local people.

“We’re not yet in a position to confirm exactly how many individual responses we have received, as some may have been entered more than once.

“We estimate, however, about 1,500 different responses overall.

“The whole point of this process has been to engage with people and get their views, so we think this has been a successful consultation. We’d like to thank people who’ve taken part in the process.”

Later this year the council will publish its Preferred Options Draft, which will also be open to public consultation.

The responses will then be considered by councillors, to produce a further draft which is then reviewed before going before the Government. The whole process will take 18 months, before the document is adopted.