'City may need more Traveller pitches than first expected' -

From the South Wales Evening news

THE number of Travellers' pitches needed in Swansea may have been underestimated, according to National Assembly inspectors.

And the process to identify and establish a site for Travellers may also have been underestimated, according to findings made in a report.

The findings are contained in a judgment by the planning inspectorate, which overturned a decision by Swansea Council to refuse permission to use private land in Birchgrove for "caravans for residential purposes for four gypsy pitches" and additional utility rooms.

The decision to permit the caravans to be sited on the land at Drummau House, in Birchgrove Road, also means that Swansea Council will have to pay part of the costs of the appeal.

Bob Clay, of campaign group Llansamlet Against a Second Traveller site, said: "I believe this finding shows that Swansea Council's process for identifying a Travellers' site has lost all credibility.

"They have an illegal but tolerated site, but the inspector's report seems to suggest it may have to be tolerated a lot longer."

Swansea Council's public consultation over the location of a new site to house Travellers in the city finished at the end of March.

Llansamlet is already home to one legal Travellers' site, at Pant-y-Blawd Road, which is currently full.

There are five sites currently being considered, including what would be a second in Llansamlet, and two in Gorseinon, one in Cockett and one in Penderry.

Swansea Council initially turned down permission for land to be used at Drummau House for reasons which included highway safety.

The inspector's report states that the intended occupiers are Romany Gypsies, and the appellant runs a scrap yard business in Bridgend.

And it reads: "I am satisfied that the council set abut its Gypsy Traveller accommodation assessment (GTAA) process with good intent, and that there is also a willingness on its part to adjust figures if further information comes to light.

"However, it is clear to me that the GTAA has underestimated need...it seems to me that need will be considerably more than that identified by the council."

In considering the appeal, the report adds: "It is the council's view that suitable sites identified by the task and finish group could be brought forward within two-and-a- half years.

"In my experience, the timetable suggested by the council is optimistic, and a period of three-and-a-half to four years would be more realistic.

"I conclude there is currently material un-met need which will not start to be met by the council for a number of years."

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "We are looking at the planning inspector's comments so we can consider our options.

"In terms of the council's ongoing plans to develop a second Gypsy and Traveller site, we have had an excellent response from the public in relation to the public consultation.

"We need to look at all the responses before we move forward to the next stage of the process.

"The accommodation needs assessment has highlighted the need for further provision for Gypsies and Travellers residing in Swansea. We want to carry out this process as quickly as we can to ensure the needs of these families are met."