CAMPAIGNERS fighting against a proposed gypsy site near Crewe took their battle to Downing Street this week.

Representatives from the action group ‘Crewe Against Traveller Sites’ (CATS) hand delivered a petition signed by 5,400 furious residents to the prime minster on Monday.

The campaign is against Cheshire East Council’s proposal to build a permanent 12-pitch gipsy and traveller site off Parkers Road, in Coppenhall.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson met CATS representatives Glenn Perris, chairman, Clr Derek Bebbington, former councillor John Jones and petition coordinator Chris Bell on the steps of Downing Street.

Clr Derek Bebbington, said: “There are a lot of people that feel very strongly about this proposal.

“We are not against other races – it is just not the right site. It is too small for what they want to use it for.

“They will need space for static caravans, trailers and vehicles to pull them. There also needs to be facilities for washing and a communal room.

“There is just not enough room.

“The entrance is on a really bad bend too - someone has been killed there recently.”

It is not yet known when the group will get a response from Downing Street but members say they are hopeful it will be the right one.

But Clr Bebbington has also stressed they cannot win this battle alone.

He added: “We will carry on the fight and we are now waiting for the planning application to come through.

“However, we still want people to write to the council with their feelings – more than ever in fact.

“The more people that write, the more pressure it puts on the council.

“Unless people object to it on proper planning grounds we can’t do anything – this has to be a community led effort.”

The group is now planning to hold a community meeting in January, details of which have yet to be finalised.