It will probably have come as a shock to most of you to hear that on 8th August 2013, Hartlepool Borough Council selected two areas located at Hart as their choice for a Permanent Gypsy / Traveller Site Allocation.

This decision completely undermines the creditability of the usual planning processes that we all adhere to and throws into question the ability of the leaders of this town, to follow a ‘fair and transparent process’. As residents we had the same concerns as every other person who submitted an objection but ours, for some reason, were ignored.

We are neither Snobs or Nimby’s, and feel this will be yet another jewel lost from Hartlepool’s Crown. The sites will not respect the character and appearance of the locality, nor is it compatible with the relevant Gypsy / Traveller Site Criteria.

The decision is flawed, non-objective and non evidence-based. The decision does not meet government criteria, determining what a chosen site should provide gypsy / travellers with, in order to enhance their lives.

As residents we have joined forces to fight this decision which we feel will not only affect those who live in the immediate area, but those who regularly use the public footpaths, cycle ways, visit the public houses/church etc. We feel that it will also detract from tourism and business, (existing or future investments), being situated on one of the two main routes into our town.

We also feel that as residents, we have been continuously lied to and misled throughout this whole process, by those who claim to have both our and your best interests at heart.