[Pictures and Videos: Don Jackson-Wyatt]

A BLANK cheque to fight plans to deliver gypsy and traveller sites on the outskirts St Asaph was promised during a heated public meeting.

Hundreds of residents turned out to the meeting, held on Thursday at Glan Clwyd School, to voice their objections against plans to create a permanent residential site for five to six pitches as well as a transit site for four to five pitches at Green-gates Farm East.

The room catered for 180 people, but residents lined the corridors and a second session had to take place after the first meeting. An estimated 600 people turned up at the school. 

Cllr Colin Hardie, mayor of St Asaph, said the city council have an “open cheque to pay whatever to fight this [the development] - even if it goes to judicial review".

Leanne Groves, whose property will be surrounded by the proposed sites, moved to her countryside home 18 months ago.

Her voice broke as she spoke at the meeting about how the plans would impact on her family if given the green light.

The mum-of-two, who is married to Andrew, said: “Me and my husband and two children moved here two months ago after an extensive search for suitable properties.

“We moved here for very specific reasons; mainly for the needs of my daughter who has severe and profound multiple learning difficulties. She has a rare genetic syndrome called Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. This means her development is at approximately 14 months old.

"She has little understanding, no speech, has no sense of danger, she cannot feed herself, she wears nappies, I sleep with her, she has very little sleep and as she becomes older she is likely to have uncontrolled seizures, breathing problems and stopping breathing. She needs 24 hour care.

“She is very sensitive to sound. This is why this property was good for us. There is limiting passing traffic, there is a large outdoor space for her.”

Leanne added: “The sensory processing disorder makes her very frightened of raised voices, shouting, air breaks, dogs barking, babies crying or sudden and expected noises. It is as if her ears are bleeding. She will fall to the floor, shake her head and she is inconsolable.

“Life is difficult enough for us and we are trying to live with it and manage this. As me and my husband age and Izzy grows up to be a vulnerable child and she will grow up to be a vulnerable adult. This house has enabled us to accommodate somebody to live in with us.”

Cllr Hardie, St Asaph mayor, added: “We [the city council] weren’t consulted prior to this. The first that we knew about it was when we read it in the press.

“I can say as a council that we are wholly against this development. We really don’t feel we have had a fair crack of the whip.

"The way Denbighshire County Council have dealt with our community and not knowing about this is not good. It is a disgrace.

“It would be nice to have donations to help. We are prepared sign an open cheque.”

Leanne admitted that her house was her “safe haven” and although she feels her house will be unsellable if the proposals go ahead, she said it is about “quality of life”.

Residents were told that all Denbighshire County Council planning officers were invited to the public meeting but declined.

Cllr Tony Thomas, town and county councillor who is lead member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment at Denbighshire, did attend and was challenged on statements by members of the public.

He said: “The needs of the traveller has to be reasonable. Close to the A55. That is what came about from the assessment.

“I fully understand Leanne’s situation. Would I do the same… yes, if i was in her situation.”

One resident asked how many councillors, who will approve this plan, actually live in St Asaph? In which cllr Thomas responded: “There is eight members on the cabinet and none live in St Asaph. One lives in Bodelwyddan who voted against it.

“The decision for the two preferred sites was made four weeks ago.”

Mark Evans, investor at St Asaph Business Park, said: “I don’t think the [County] council has thought about the bigger picture.

“Without the economy, everything may fall down. There are hundreds of people employed on the park.

“The businesses are against this proposal. It will be devastating.”

Comments and observations on the plans can be put forward at countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk

Deadline is November 21.