PROPOSALS to relocate a family made up of travelling showpeople to pave the way for part of a £190 million regeneration scheme have been approved.

The plans to accommodate five pitches, as well as storage space, on vacant land to the east of Athlone Road were passed by the development management committee last Wednesday.

The application was put forward by Warrington & Co, the council’s business arm.

Planning permission is already in place to relocate another family to a separate site on Athlone Road.

Two families have been living in the town centre, on Foundry Street, but the development of the £6 million youth zone in the Stadium Quarter requires them to be relocated.

Planners also say the redevelopment of the family’s site ‘would aid the wider economic regeneration’ of the Stadium Quarter – a scheme priced at £190 million.

An application had previously been approved to relocate a family to land in Woolston, on New Cut Lane, but anger from residents forced a council rethink.

Cllr Les Morgan said: “I find this site is far, far better, far more suitable for these people, who deserve a good site.

“They are a long-term Warrington family.

“They have a good history in Warrington and support Warrington and support many charities in Warrington, I do know that.

“It is a far better site for them.”

Cllr Bob Barr added that it was ‘really refreshing’ to have a ‘win, win, win application’.