A GOVERNMENT agency could provide £1 million towards the cost of a controversial new gipsy and traveller site near Selby , The Press can reveal.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which is responsible for providing local authorities with funding to help create traveller sites, is also the owner of the land at Burn Airfield, where Selby District Council wants to buy up to ten acres, and could provide £1.02 million towards the project.

Tom Hustler, from the HCA, said the suggested development at Burn would enable the council to meet a Government requirement to provide a five-year supply of deliverable pitches.

He said: “Burn Airfield is currently owned by us, following the transfer of ownership from what was previously Yorkshire Forward. The scheme is to create a new site adjacent to the existing provision comprising 15 permanent Traveller pitches and two transit pitches.

Our investment, subject to detailed costings would be up to a maximum of £60,000 per pitch. A pitch provides accommodation for a family.”

Selby District Council’s Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD) identified land at Burn Airfield as the preferred location for a new gipsy and traveller site following almost two years of debate.

A number of other locations have previously been identified by the council as preferred sites, including sites in Whitley, Brayton and Brotherton, but each time the plans have been met with locla opposition.

Gordon Holmes, former chair of Burn Parish Council, said: “I think the way they are going about it is deplorable.

“It’s disgraceful. They know the feeling of the people in the village.

“We should be looking around North Yorkshire, not just Selby.”

A council spokeswoman said the authority was also working with the Selby District Association of Voluntary Services (AVS), on the bid for the site and the funding, but could not confirm how much this would cost the council.

She said: “We are working in partnership with the AVS on the HCA bid. This decision has been made in light of the organisation’s track record in submitting successful bids.”