PLANS for an 11-pitch gypsy and traveller site at Stairfoot have been approved by the council despite objections from residents and a local councillor.

Coun Brian Mathers objected to the plans on Grange Lane, next to the waste transfer station, and as a result was told he could not vote on the application because the law says councillors must approach planning meetings with 'an open mind'.

Only three letters of objection had been received by the council, but several members of the public attended the meeting saying they had not known about the plans and complained there had been a 'lack of consultation'.

The site will be run and managed by the council as an 'emergency stopping place' which gypsies and travellers will be able to use for a maximum of 14 days.

It will allow the police to use their existing powers to move unauthorised encampments across the borough and direct them to this site.

Councillors voted to approve the application, but said it would still take representations from people until October 31, and if there were any representations which were different to those already taken, the application would be borough back before the planning committee again.