Mick Grant

I would like to thank all of those who either commented or emailed me following my last blog on the issue of the gypsies and travellers site on Normanby Road. Some were very responsible and understand the situation we are in and the way in which we are trying to deal with the matter. Other responses, however, were a little more challenging! I don't neccesarily agree with those extreme points of view on this subject - I follow the strategic view coming from Government office.

It is important that we do not tar all of the gypsy and traveller community with the same brush.  That said, I understand there is a petition going around and if it is presented in the usual fashion following council rules I would be willing to accept it and sit down with people to discuss the issues they have.  I will blog with further updates to keep residents informed as things develop.

Over the last week or so I have been made aware of a number of incidents which have taken place on the north part of Normanby Road.  These include two break ins at the Scunthorpe Scorpions speedway site and problems at other businesses close by.

I've been made aware that people who live close to the area have concerns about the siting of a gypsy and travellers camp on land close to the speedway circuit. That piece of land was designated to be a gypsy and travellers site in the days of Scunthorpe Borough Council but it was later shut down. Under new legislation from the government we have to have a Gypsies and Traveller Acommodation Strategy and identify official sites for gypsies and travellers.  The site on Normanby Road is one of these sites.

As a result of consultation with the gypsy community we felt that as this piece of land used to be a gypsy site it would make sense to re-open it. If we have designated sites it gives us the power to move gypsies and travellers on if they try and stay in non-designated areas.  Local businesses were made aware of this before the site was re-opened.

Over the last week I have been made aware of some problems in the area and have also read about them in the local press. Council officers have spoken to Rob Godfrey and I personally have spoken to the police. We do need to find a way forward.  As a result I would be happy to meet with an organised delegation of residents so we can discuss the issue. I also believe a petition is in the works and would be happy to discuss this too.  I know some people have contacted the ward councillors and we are trying to take on board as many comments as possible so we can take the issue forward.

I can be contacted through this blog or on email: cllr.mickgrant@northlincs.gov.uk

A story in tonight's local paper states 1,000 new homes will be put on hold at a proposed development behind Tesco in Scunthorpe.

The Lockwood Estate has been stopped for now by Gallagher Estates on the project and it is the latest development to have been put on hold. Firms are blaming the 'credit crisis' as a reason for the building slowdown.

But it's not just a problem for commercial housing sales, as the Lockwood project means there will now be a delay in the building of 140 affordable homes. Our own housing needs survey shows that we need 305 affordable homes built every year. It is obviously a problem and I hope the delay doesn't set things back for too long. We must have affordable homes for local people to ensure first time buyers can get on the housing ladder.

This week I have been down in Bournemouth for the Local Government Association's annual conference. It was a very useful event and it was good to meet people not only from our region, but from across the country as well.  Over the course of the weekend I listened to the likes of Boris Johnson, John Healey, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. I was hoping to see John Prescott speak but unfortunately he was stuck in London.

I was very disappointed by Nick Clegg - he was very monotone and it was as if he was reading from a piece of paper. John Healey gave an insight into new legislation that was coming along and localism. David Cameron came from a privitatisation angle which shows what we are in for if the Tories win the next general election. And Boris was just bonkers!