Green belt at risk as Gypsy camp rules are enforced

From the Telegraph

Ministers have ordered councils to increase the number of authorised sites for Gypsy families, despite concerns that the ruling could increase tensions and see more caravans in the countryside.

Local authorities are also being given financial incentives, through council tax bonuses, to build Traveller sites. A separate £60 million government fund will help cover construction costs.

Without action, the number of Travellers’ caravans in unauthorised camps will almost double from 2,400 in 2010 to 4,500 by 2015, claims the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The total number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in England and Wales has increased by 39 per cent between 2000 and 2011 to 18,383.

Nick Boles, the planning minister, said all councils must have allocated enough land by March 27 to cover rising numbers of Traveller sites for the next five years.

Mr Boles said the measures would see more authorised sites for Traveller camps, reducing the number of illegal settlements, such as the former camp at Dale Farm in Essex.

Ministers believe the policy will ease tensions between Travellers and local residents in permanent housing and ultimately save councils money on evictions.

However, the official “impact assessment” on the rules warns of a risk that the arrangements will result in more unauthorised camps in the countryside.

“There is a potential risk that local authorities will not consider working together to produce joint plans,” the document says. “There may also be potential risks to areas such as the Green Belt if a local planning authority has special or strict planning constraints across its area unless neighbouring authorities were to work with it.”

The Government said national planning guidance had increased protection for the green belt, while councils will have more powers to tackle unauthorised camps.