PLANS for a gypsy site on Rolls-Royce land in Derby are back

on track after the city council's cabinet went against the

wishes of the majority of the authority.

Members last night voted in favour of pushing ahead with the

plans for a 17-pitch camp in Russell Street.

This went against a recommendation of the full council that

the application for the site be withdrawn – a motion which the

majority Liberal Democrat party had voted against.

But the Lib Dem cabinet got its own way last night when

members decided against pulling the plug on the plans.

It is now up to the planning committee to decide the site's

fate tomorrow.

Councillor Bob Troup, member for housing and public

protection, told the meeting last night: "I have no great wish

to go against the wishes of full council but I do not believe

they are right in this case. Despite Rolls-Royce's reluctance

to sell the land, I am confident they can be brought

onside.

"I do have some sympathy with the fact that this area is not

in an ideal location.

"But I do not think anything that has been said shows that a

better site could be found."

Councillors Lucy Care and Mike Carr left the room before the

issue was discussed last night because they sit on the planning

committee.

The five remaining cabinet members, council leader Hilary

Jones, councillors Troup Ruth Skelton, Les Allen and Joe

Niatta, voted to follow officers' recommendations to pursue the

application.

Baggy Shanker, Labour councillor for Sinfin, brought the

motion to dismiss the plans for Russell Street at the previous

full council meeting.

He had called for a proper review looking at all sites,

whether council-owned or not.

Speaking after hearing of last night's decision, he said:

"It's disgusting. From a democratic point of view, what is the

thinking behind this decision?

"The site is unsuitable in terms of size and location."

Chad Foster, chairman of Action Group Osmaston, which has

campaigned against the site in Russell Street, said: "It's

amazing that the Lib Dems have gone against the motion that was

passed fairly and squarely by the majority of elected members

in this city.

"Surely they are committing political suicide. We will be

speaking at the planning meeting to express our concerns.

"If they cannot make a decision about this, then God help

the rest of the city."

The council was awarded £1.4m of Government money to create

a permanent gypsy site.

It would replace an unauthorised camp in Glossop Street,

which has been there for several years.

The authority proposed 12 possible sites for the permanent

camp and all but Russell Street were council-owned.

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