Haldon Hill travellers facing eviction - Devon

From the Herald Express

ALMOST half of the travellers living on Haldon's unauthorised encampment face 'eviction' under new plans to legalise the site.

People who are not allocated a pitch at a planned new official site will be moved on elsewhere — and could face enforcement action if they return.

The warning comes as Teign Housing continues its bid to turn the long-standing and hugely controversial unauthorised site into a smaller, fit-for-purpose encampment.

But a commitment has been made by Teignbridge Council to help those with the 'greatest need'.

Since it was first occupied in August 2001, the site has been unauthorised but 'tolerated' by local authorities.

There are now an estimated 30 households on the site with 40 adults and 25 children.

Some adults are employed, with families registered to local doctors' surgeries, and children are schooled in Kenton, Bovey Tracey and Dawlish.

In January, it was revealed £1.1million had been secured to create an official site of 15 pitches with toilets, showers and power.

Teign Housing is behind the bid, backed by Teignbridge Council. Teign Housing has put up temporary fencing around an area earmarked for the official new site — next to the current unauthorised one.

It will allow site surveys to be completed. Once that is done, plans can be drawn up and formally submitted to Teignbridge Council.

The council has said those who are not allocated a pitch at the new site will be helped to find alternative accommodation. Enforcement action will be made against any remaining on unauthorised land, it added.

Cllr Philip Vogel, the council's executive member for housing and planning, said: "If an authorised site is approved, pitches will be allocated based on a number of factors, giving priority to those with the greatest need.

"Anyone who isn't successful getting a place would need to move on and if this happens we will work directly with those affected to offer support and advice.

"If anyone wishes to move into settled housing then they will be treated in the same way as any other applicant who is faced with homelessness."