IT WAS standing room only at a public meeting held in Chirk last night as residents voiced their concerns about a proposed gipsy site in Black Park.

More than 200 people turned out to show their vehement opposition to the proposals and to quiz Wrexham planning chief Lawrence Isted about the plans.

Resident Sally Poppitt said: “I don’t understand why we need more gipsy sites in the first place. If it’s necessary then why don’t they put them on the other camp.”

Another angry local Joyce Evans added: “It’s going to blitz this area. It will be the first thing you see when you come into Wales.”

Under Wrexham Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) Black Park, off the Halton roundabout of the A483 and close to the McDonald’s Restaurant, has been earmarked as one of three potential sites for a new gipsy and traveller camp.

The other two potential locations are a former sewage treatment plant at Coed-y-Felin in Brymbo and the present gipsy and traveller site in Ruthin Road, Wrexham, where an extension is suggested.

Pensioner Jim Wilson, who has lived in Chirk for 80 years, said: “That park has the blood of miners on it and it should be a memorial to them. I regard the colliery ground as sacred.”

Chirk councillor Ian Roberts sent out a rallying cry for people to attend the council’s executive meeting on Wednesday, March 24 when the proposals would be discussed.

He said: “We need you to be at that meeting and if you can’t get a seat then be outside, just make sure you go to make a difference.”

A research group commissioned by the council said it must find a further 15 travellers’ pitches by 2013 and another 12 pitches by 2021.