Archived News - Traveller
Independent panel to consider gypsy and traveller sites in East of England
Residents in the East of England were invited to have their say through a consultation run by the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Local authorities are responsible for planning authorised pitches for the gypsy and traveller community as well as the housing needs of the settled population. The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) recommended that each of the region's 48 local authorities should plan for at least 15 additional pitches by 2011 in a draft policy ('Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs). This was published on 25 February for 12 weeks public consultation. The plans for additional Gypsy and Traveller authorised sites are part of a single issue review of the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) and follow two years of research and consultation with local authorities, businesses, voluntary organisations, the public and Gypsies and Travellers.
The East of England Plan provides a clear, agreed, long-term vision for how the region will provide jobs and homes for its residents until 2021 and beyond. It is the framework for putting into place the Government's growth agenda within the region and ensuring that growth is sustainable. The adequate provision of homes and affordable housing to accommodate the needs of different communities is a vital element of the Plan.
The panel will conduct an Examination in Public from Tuesday 21 October - Friday 24 October at the Spirella Ballroom in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Using the results of the public consultation, the panel will provide recommendations on any changes to the proposals. The Government will consult on any further changes before publishing the final policy in 2009.
Further information about the Examination in Public is available on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
Source: Government Office for the East of England
Last chance to comment on proposals for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England
Time is running out for residents in the East of England to have their say on plans to address the shortage of caravan pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in the region. The deadline for comments is Friday 16 May, 2008.
This consultation is being run by the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Local authorities are responsible for planning authorised pitches for the 4,229 Gypsy and Traveller caravans in the region. Of these 1,140 are currently on unauthorised pitches. East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has recommended that each of the region's 48 local authorities should provide at least 15 additional pitches. Proposals will be finalised by GO-East in 2009.
Tim Freathy, Acting Deputy Regional Director of GO-East said:
"It is important to engage with the Gypsy and Traveller community. By providing enough authorised sites to meet people's needs we can reduce unauthorised encampments and help to end friction with settled communities."
The plans for additional Gypsy and Traveller caravan pitches are part of a single issue review of the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) and follow two years of research and consultation with local authorities, businesses, voluntary organisations, the public and Gypsies and Travellers.
The East of England Plan provides a clear, agreed, long-term vision for how the region will provide jobs and homes for its residents until 2021 and beyond. It is the framework for putting into place the Government's growth agenda within the region and ensuring that growth is sustainable. The adequate provision of homes and affordable housing to accommodate the needs of different communities, is a vital element of the Plan.
Responses to the public consultation will be considered by an independent panel who will conduct an Examination in Public and provide recommendations on any changes to the proposals. The Government will consult on any further changes before publishing the final policy later in 2009.
Source: Government Office for the East of England
Government pays £73,000 to improve traveller site
A traveller site at Eaton Bray is set to get a £73,013 makeover. Beds County Council has been given the money to spend on Chiltern View in Northall Road as part of an East of England Gypsy and Traveller Site grant totalling £6.9 million, announced on Friday by Communities Minister Ian Wright MP.
Across England, since 2006/7 the Government has approved £54.6 million of investment (including £50,000 for Chiltern View) that will provide over 400 additional pitches for gypsies and travellers, and refurbish 120 sites.
A further £97 million of funding is available between 2008-11, and bids are now being invited for 2008/9.
Mr Wright said: "This funding is vital in delivering both new and better sites to ensure that gypsies and travellers have authorised, decent places to live and to help reduce the £18 million annual enforcement bill.
"It is important that councils ensure there are enough authorised sites for the gypsy and traveller communities.
"A good supply of legal sites can break the vicious cycle of evictions that is costly in terms of both local tensions and taxpayers' cash."
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Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 11 March 2008