PLANS to permanently house travellers on a piece of Machynlleth common land have gone out to consultation.

The controversial proposed Gypsy site, which will cost almost £1m, has been dogged with problems, leading to delays following a series of rows over replacement land, costs and an alleged lack of consultation.

The plan to expand Machynlleth’s traveller site near the town’s cemetery was given the green light by Powys planners in August last year, despite concerns in the town over unresolved issues about highway access to the site and over a replacement for the loss of the designated common land.

Work at the site, which will be funded by a £750,000 grant from the Welsh Government and a contribution from Powys County Council of £240,000, will not begin until 2019 at the earliest, but the council will now consult on deregistering a part of common land so the scheme can go ahead. Powys council has been ordered by the Welsh Government to provide the permanent traveller site for five families to “meet a recognised need”.

The application to deregister 0.54 hectares of Parc Common near Newtown Road has been submitted, along with plans to register a separate 2.59 hectares of replacement land as common land.

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