CONTROVERSIAL plans to build Gipsy and traveller sites in Newport will not go before full council as they are not exceptional and the debate would likely be a shambles, the authority’s leader says.

Applications for five sites in Bettws, Marshfield and Nash will instead be discussed by the planning committee in the new year after Matthew Evans rejected Labour councillors’ plea for all members to have their say about the plans, which have attracted opposition from thousands of residents.

Cllr Evans told Tuesday’s full council meeting he made the decision after consulting with planning committee chairman Cllr Richard White and seeking legal advice.

He concluded that although the subject was an emotive one, it was not considered “exceptional”

enough to warrant all councillors’ involvement and such a full debate was likely to be “shambolic”.

He said the law stated only applications which would have an impact on the economy, development and environment of the whole city needed to be discussed by full council, and as the applications were for five relatively small sites, it was not needed.

He added: “If the planning committee can make discussion on multi-million pound planning applications, they are good enough to decide this.”

Labour councillors hit out at the decision branding it a “disgrace”.

Cllr John Richards said opposition to the plans was growing across the city and the refusal of a full council debate “suppressed democracy”.

He said: “I thought Matthew as leader you understood the feeling of people in this town but you have totally disregarded them on this issue.”

Cllr Ron Jones expressed concern that many members of the planning committee would not be allowed to take part in the decision- making process as many of them had already aired their views on the issue in public.

Nearly 2,000 people signed a petition against plans at Yew Tree Cottage, Bettws, while 400 people attended a public meeting opposing two proposed encampments at Pye Corner, Nash.

Another site is planned at Pound Hill, Marshfield. More than 200 sites were initially considered.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Gipsy site is a sensitive issue

WE HAVE said before that the issue of finding a Gipsy and traveller camp in Newport is one of the most sensitive facing the council.

Yesterday it was revealed that the plans will not go before a full council, meaning not every councillor will have their say on the matter.

Instead, Newport council’s planning committee will decide on where the site will go.

Council leader Matthew Evans said he decided not to allow all councillors to have their say as the debate could have become a shambles.

He said that although the subject was an emotive one, it was not considered “exceptional” enough to warrant all councillors’ involvement.

Whoever decides on the camp will have an incredible amount of responsibility.

Quite simply, nobody wants one anywhere near their homes.

We believe the Gipsy community has a responsibility to make itself more acceptable to communities and have spoken to travellers who agree with us.

We have no sympathy with racists and those who spout rubbish about Gipsies. It does nothing to help.

But we do have sympathy with residents, although the law says the council has to provide a site somewhere.

The onus, as we have said before, is on the Gipsy community to make itself more acceptable.

We trust the council has taken everything into consideration before deciding that this will only be heard in front of a select panel of councillors.

Many may agree that it will be better to have the debate held with fewer councillors than risk such an emotive subject descend into chaos.