Local residents will be aware of the public concern over two adjacent showman’s sites at Picket Piece. Work has already started on the first site which has planning permission. An application for the second site was turned down by the Northern Area Planning Committee last month. The applicants for the second site were John Wall and Son who run the regular fairs at Smannell Road Open Space.

 Today I received an email from Mrs Bernice Wall, one of the applicants, details are as follows

“We have decided not to pursue the planning applcation for the Showmen’s Quarters we applied for , I believe that,in looking at the overall response, it would not be welcomed by the local community and therefore it would be unfair to carry on with an appeal on the decision.  We have declined the advice given to us on moral grounds , and hope by letting you know this side of Christmas it will lay the local residents concerns to rest. We truly had no idea that the feeling against  the application from the local residents was so strong. Our apologies if we caused anyone undue concern.  May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a Healthy 2009.”

While it is important that we find sites for show people it is equally important that these sites are acceptable to local residents. I applaud Mrs Wall’s public spirited decision not to pursue her application and thank her for the consideration she has shown to the local community.