Travellers: 'New law will stop us settling down'

NEW legislation setting out guidelines for where Gypsies can settle is a setback in their fight to continue traditional customs, according to Travellers.

They have hit out at the new Localism Act, which they say leaves them less likely than ever to find a permanent place to live.

 

The new law, which received Royal Assent on November 15, ushers in a number of changes to the UK planning system, including the abolition of regional strategies.

It means targets set by the previous Government for Travellers pitches are to disappear and will be determined locally.

However, Brentwood Borough Council's consultation on the location of 15 permanent Traveller pitches it was told it needed to provide remains active, with the results to be published shortly.

The Localism Bill, tabled by Local Government secretary and Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles in 2010, means the borough council will have to assess the need, based on historic demand, provide a five-year supply of land and identify specific sites to enable continuous delivery of sites for at least 15 years.

Travellers believe that decisions made locally, by the settled community around them, will affect efforts by Travellers to be granted permanent sites, meaning there will always be a question mark over their residency.

Bernadette Reilly, chairman of the Brentwood Gypsy Support Group, said: "I don't know any different. I've always lived in a caravan.
"My daughter Joline got married eight weeks ago and she lives in a flat. She is miserable. She spends most of her time here. She feels lonely there.
"You wouldn't tell or expect people who normally live in a house to live in a caravan. It's the same for us.
"I don't know why we should live in a house. People should have a choice about how they live.
"This is not a better deal for Travellers. I think whatever chance we had of being given somewhere permanent to live has gone now."

Mrs Reilly, who has lived at Roman Triangle for the past nine years with eight other adults and 18 children on five pitches, had spoken of her delight in 2009 when the site was shortlisted for permanent status.

Her temporary permission expires in April next year but she has applied already and is expectant of being given another one before then.

She added: "I don't believe this new law is going to do Travellers much good at all."

David Vinden, who along with 13 other adults is fighting to stay on land in Blackmore, was equally pessimistic about the new law.

He said: "I can't see how it is going to be good. If they say local people have a chance to decide if they want a Travellers' pitch, what chance do we have?"

However, Professor Thomas Acton, an expert in Romany and Gypsy culture and history, was welcoming of the Localism Act.

The university lecturer, who lives in Brentwood, said: "Eric Pickles has not softened personally but his bill has allowed other people to soften.

"In that way,Ttravellers in Brentwood will be getting a better deal. It means that at the end of five years the people in the 15 pitches, at least as soon as the local development plan is finalised, should get permanent planning."