Travellers set up camp on disused shop car park - Cornwall

From the Plymouth Herald
TRAVELLERS have set up an unauthorised encampment in Saltash.

Caravans have settled on the disused Focus site on the Saltash Industrial Estate.

A spokesperson from Cornwall Council said: "Cornwall Council is aware of a number of unauthorised sites, across the County at the current time, where Gypsies or Travellers are occupying land in both public and private ownership.

"The Council works in partnership with other statutory agencies on these matters, and offers advice and support to the land-owners on how they may wish to manage these incursions upon their land.

"We also have a duty of care towards the Gypsy and Traveller community and make contact to check on their well-being.

"As announced in January, the Council has been successful in its bid for funding for the provision of new authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites.

"The Council, along with every other local authority in the country, has a duty to provide suitable sites to meet the needs of its Gypsy and Traveller community.

"Cornwall has a history of unauthorised encampments and a lack of regulated alternative sites to move people on to.

"This Government funding has been made available to provide new sites to address the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers.

"It is hoped that a network of small sites can be developed across Cornwall to meet existing needs and to address unauthorised encampments."