A parish council will oppose Central Beds Council s decision (CBC) to earmark land next to a school and opposite a military airbase for a potential gipsy and traveller site. CBC s decision comes after it almost certainly axed the site in Clifton where par

A parish council will oppose Central Beds Council's decision (CBC) to earmark land next to a school and opposite a military airbase for a potential gipsy and traveller site.

CBC's decision comes after it almost certainly axed the site in Clifton where parish council chairman Barry Livesey said residents will be "quietly pleased by the news".

But CBC has now shifted the problem a few miles away to Henlow which had not even made the initial shortlist.

"The site is on land that is currently farmed, is directly adjacent to Derwent Lower School and is very close to RAF Henlow, and therefore also the Henlow Flying Club airstrip and the site of the police helicopter," said Cllr Tim Wiles, chairman of Henlow Parish Council.

"The council do not believe this site to be suitable and will be speaking against it. We have alerted the RAF and the school.

"I'm sure residents will be understandably concerned and we will be contacting parishioners in the next couple of weeks with more specific details and letting them know how to register any objections."

Cllr Tom Nicols, portfolio holder for sustainable development at CBC, said: "The site at Clifton is, contrary to earlier advice, not in Central Bedfordshire Council's ownership. It seems highly unlikely that this site will now go forward as a traveller and gipsy site.

"Alternative sites are being researched, one of which is in Henlow. All sites will all be discussed at the sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee meeting on February 23.