Review of £48k Travellers planning application in Prestatyn

Denbighshire County Council cabinet members voted 5-2 in favour of submitting an application for a change of use at 42 and 42a Marine Road, and to create a new access route off Caradoc Road, at a meeting on October 20.

That meeting followed councillors requesting a "call-in" of the decision made by head of housing and communities, Heidi McDougall, to submit the application herself in July.

But another ‘call-in’ request has now been made by councillors who question whether the cabinet had ‘sufficient, accurate and balanced information’ before approving the submission of the planning application.

The councillors who have backed the ‘call-in’ are all based in Prestatyn; Cllrs Andrea Tomlin, Elen Heaton, Gareth Sandilands, Jon Harland, Ben Williams and Carol Holliday.

The matter will be considered at a meeting of the council’s performance scrutiny committee on Thursday, November 12.

The notice of ‘call-in’ states: “We request that this decision be called in for scrutiny due to concerns about whether cabinet had sufficient, accurate and balanced information before approving the progression of a planning application involving approximately £48,000 of expenditure from council reserves.

“We recognise the council’s statutory responsibility to meet the identified need for four permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches, and the importance of the family’s established connections to Prestatyn.

“Our concerns relate to the evidence supporting the selection of Marine Road, rather than the need to provide accommodation.

“In particular, we believe further examination is required of the site-selection process’ previous scrutiny findings’ previous council housing proposals’ (and) financial and decision-making assurance.”

The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment for Denbighshire, approved by Welsh Government in May 2024, identified an immediate need for 14 pitches, linked to three family groups.

The Marine Road site does not have permission for residential use, so a successful change of use planning application is required for it to become the family’s home.

A "task and finish group" was set up by the council to identify a suitable permanent home for this family.

Ms McDougall said at the October 20 meeting that the Marine Road site was deemed the "only suitable site" for a permanent home in Prestatyn for the family, with all council-owned land in the town having been considered.

In total, four caravans would be based on the site – where the family has lived for the last two years – if the planning application is approved.

The family in question were described as Welsh speakers and residents of Prestatyn for 13 years, with an ‘established’ business in the town.

Some of the children in the family were said to have additional needs – in this regard, the council said the proposal “supports the need of as little disruption to their family life and education provision as possible”.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, deputy council leader, said at that meeting that the £48,000 cost of submitting the planning application “seems rather excessive”.

Ms McDougall said that sum includes planning design and consultant fees, while Welsh Government grants may fund some of it.

If the decision is referred back to cabinet, then cabinet will consider the matter again at its next meeting, on Tuesday, November 17.