Council eyes portfolio of evidence on illegal camps - Staffordshire

PEOPLE in East Staffordshire are being asked to provide evidence of the need for more places for Gypsy and Traveller communities in the borough.

East Staffordshire Borough Council has recently updated its assessment of how much accommodation is needed for travellers in the area.

Deputy leader for regulatory services Robert Hardwick said: “The council has a duty to assess and plan for the housing needs of all sections of the community.

“The evidence we have does not indicate a need for any new caravan pitches for Travellers over the next 10 years.

“However, if anyone is able to provide any evidence of additional need then this can be included in the assessment.” The council has published its current assessment for consultation on the council’s website at www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk under the title ‘Have Your Say’. Any comments from members of the public must be received by the end of February.

The borough has been fortunate in recent years in terms of illegal encampments when compared with neighbouring South Derbyshire, which has been besieged during the past two years.

However, unlike South Derbyshire, Burton recorded no illegal Traveller encampments in 2011, with the last recorded in 2010.

In March 2010, Travellers attempted to set up camp at the Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton Albion FC, in Princess Way.

However, they agreed to move on after discussions with club officials and the police, and left the site around an hour and- a-half after arriving.

Travellers blighted businesses in Third Avenue, on the Centrum 100 business park, for 18 months after setting up camp four times before finally moving on when handed an eviction notice by East Staffordshire Borough Council.

The borough council was forced to act amid a storm of protest from Third Avenue businesses, whose bosses claimed customers were being turned away by the ‘intimidating eyesore’ of Traveller caravans, chickens and dogs which made up the camp outside their entrances.