Denbighshire County Council moves forward with plans for permanent Gypsy and Traveller site

Denbighshire County Council is pressing ahead with plans to establish a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site in Prestatyn to fulfil a long-standing legal obligation.
Under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, the local authority is legally required to assess accommodation needs every five years for gypsies and travellers.
Consequently, the cabinet is tasked with considering submitting Planning Applications for 42 and 42a Marine Road and Caradoc Road Flats, Prestatyn.
The cost of submitting a planning application would involve a design team fee of £39,000, plus the disbursements of £6,000 for the fees of specialist consultants, together with the planning fee of £2,668, which would make a total of around £48,000.
The cabinet must decide whether to approve submitting a planning application for a permanent gypsy and traveller site at 42 and 42A Marine Road this autumn 2026, as well as approving a planning application for a new access road to the car park of the Caradoc Road flats to be submitted as soon as possible.
In April 2023, a formal complaint was submitted to the public services Ombudsman for Wales, which was upheld against the Welsh Government.
The Ombudsman found that the Welsh Government had not sufficiently ensured the council fulfilled its requirements in providing gypsy and traveller accommodation, resulting in a fine for the Welsh Government.
A Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment found the authority needed to provide 12 permanent pitches across the county.
With eight pitches already established on private land, the council faces an outstanding duty to provide four further pitches for one single family.
The family has lived in Prestatyn for 13 years, prompting the Gypsy and Traveller Site Assessment Task and Finish Group to focus its site search within the town.
The cabinet will discuss the matter on Tuesday 20 October.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter