Leeds: ‘End secrecy over Traveller camp’ plea

From the Yorkshire Evening Post

Council bosses are being urged to release a list of potential Gypsy and Travellers sites amid claims that secrecy surrounds the search for new camps.

The council has been awarded a £1m government grant to establish a new encampment and is currently assessing development sites across the city to see if they would be suitable.

But Coun Les Carter (Con, Adel and Wharfedale), shadow spokesman for neighbourhoods and housing, says up to 90 possible locations are being considered and is concerned that so far there has been no public consultation.

He has tabled a resolution to next week’s full council meeting so the issue can be debated.

He said: “Let’s be clear about this, there is an agenda to deliver new pitches for the Gypsy and Traveller community in Leeds and the council has a list of up to 90 sites that have so far not been made available to the public.

“At the moment there is absolutely no certainty as to where this site will be placed, all we know is that there are plans for a new site and these have been in place for quite some time.

“I have no idea why this is shrouded in secrecy, it is likely to be a key issue for local communities and if a new site is to be delivered, local people should be given the right to vote on whether or not they believe the plans are appropriate.

“At the moment this policy is unsatisfactory, secretive, undemocratic and flies in the face of open and accountable local government.”

Coun Peter Gruen, executive member for neighbourhoods and housing, said up to 300 sites were being assessed against openly published criteria and many would not be suitable for a variety of reasons.

He said: “I have promised that when we have some sites that meet the criteria a further report will be brought to the executive board. There will also be full public consultation.

“We have already taken four reports to the board on the way forward. This is being done publicly and we are being positive about what is a difficult issue.”

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