A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a traveller site on the edge of the city has been put forward again.

Up to ten permanent traveller pitches could be built on land next to the A4440 in St Peter’s in Worcester according to resubmitted plans.

A decision on the new site was supposed to have been made by Worcester City Council’s planning committee in March but was pulled from the agenda at the last minute to iron out minor clarifications.

A total of 160 objections were made against the bid by landowner Roger Lethem ahead of the planning meeting.

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The council’s planning officers had advised councillors to turn the application down saying the traveller site would “erode and harm” the open landscape and green space.

Rumours began to circulate when a sign was put up on the field next to the busy Broomhall Way at the start of 2021 by Mr Lethem claiming the site was being put forward as part of call for new traveller sites in the city.

Worcester City Council dismissed the claims it would be considered having ruled it unsafe.

A planning application was then submitted in December for the permanent pitches before being withdrawn in March.

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Speaking after his decision to withdraw the application from the agenda, Mr Lethem said: “Hopefully the council will give the opportunity for some of our disadvantaged brethren to settle into our community with a permanent home and stable environment, which I think seeing the problems we are faced with globally, we should show tolerance and empathy for those endeavouring to make a better life for themselves.”

Up to 92 homes will be built on the site of the former Ketch car boot sale after plans were backed by Worcester City Council last year and more than 240 homes are being built by St Modwen on neighbouring land.

Housing developer St Modwen, which is building some of the thousands of homes planned for the south of Worcester, had also raised concerns about the plan saying ten traveller pitches would destroy part of the green buffer between the busy A4440 and create more noise.

You can have your say on the plan by visiting Worcester City Council’s website. The application number is 22/00751/FUL.