MORE than 700 responses and a 4,085 name petition have been received as part of a pre-planning consultation into proposals for one transit and one permanent site for gypsy and travellers on the outskirts of St Asaph.

The petition, against plans which include creating a permanent residential site for five to six pitches as well as a transit site for four to five pitches at Green-gates Farm East, was handed over to Denbighshire Council by Cllr Peter Scott, chair of the council, Cllr Colin Hardie, mayor of St Asaph, business representatives and residents.

A spokesperson from Denbighshire County Council said: “The council is carefully reviewing all of the information received from residents, the wider community and the business sector to ensure that the feedback is captured accurately and expects to be in a position to report back to Cabinet Members in Spring 2019.

“Cabinet appreciates the depth of feeling and concerns and wants to give serious consideration to everyone who has taken the trouble of contacting the council, in response to the consultation.

“We would also like to emphasise that no decision has been made.”

Cllr Hardie said: “We were pleasantly surprised about how many people have signed the petition and the level of response. It just shows the level of concern, not just from the local community but surrounding communities as well.

“We are left in limbo now until the decision is made, but at least it shows that concerns are being taken seriously. We can only hope that common sense prevails.

“Nobody knows better than the local people about what is needed in the community. We are not objecting to travellers having a site at all, but we don’t feel this is the right place for it.

“The businesses themselves on the business park are anxious. I had a meeting with business owners and everyone was concerned with the proposed development from an economic view.

“They told me that four major investors had proposals put on hold - I have no reason to doubt that.

“It is a serious matter. This is not just a knee jerk reaction, we are very concerned that about the impact this development will have on a small community.”