'Council does not provide enough room for Travellers' - Neath Port Talbot

From the South Wales Evening Post

THE Gypsy Council has blamed Neath Port Talbot Council for a recent Traveller site on Jersey Marine, saying it has not provided enough places for Travellers to stay.

Around 12 caravans have moved onto an area of land which is owned by the Welsh Government, in Jersey Marine.

Both authorised Traveller sites in Neath Port Talbot — Briton Ferry and Cae Garw, near Pyle — are full.

Spokesman for the Gypsy Council Joseph Jones said: "The local authority has not lived up to its responsibility to provide enough places for the Gypsy travelling community to live in that area, so it is letting everyone down. The local authority should be embarrassed that it has not provided a place for them to stay."

Mr Jones said it was not fair on the travelling community. "If you have got a caravan and nowhere to stay, you are effectively homeless," he said.

Following the comments from the Gypsy Council, Neath Port Talbot Council referred the Post to their previous statement.

Head of property and regeneration Gareth Nutt said: "The council has had contact with the Welsh Government about the situation and understand that, as landowners, the matter is in Welsh Government's hands."

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: "Any action on that site will be in line with the protocols and guidelines of existing Welsh Government guidance, with consideration given to the fact that the two Gypsy and Traveller sites in Neath Port Talbot are full."

Under the Housing Act 2004 all local authorities in Wales have to assess the accommodation needs of Travellers.

The existing authorised site in Swansea is at Pantyblawd Road, Llansamlet. There are plans to create a second site.