Dozens more sites needed for Gypsies - Staffordshire

From The Sentinel

UP TO 64 new pitches for Gypsies and Travellers must be found within the next four years.

The shortage of sites has been highlighted by Cheshire East Council in a new report.

It comes just months after controversial plans for a permanent Gypsy camp for 12 families at Parkers Road and Kent Lane, in Crewe, were thrown out following a change in national guidelines.

The site, which had originally been approved by the council's planning committee, was opposed by more than 7,000 people, who even took their campaign to Downing Street.

Now the authority says it still has a legal need to find permanent and temporary sites for Travellers by 2016.

The council must identify a minimum of 37 permanent pitches, up to a maximum number of 54 over the next few years.

It also needs to find land for a further 10 transit sites and 10 plots for travelling showmen, like circus entertainers.

A pitch is defined as enough space to cater for one family of Travellers, living from two trailers and a vehicle.

The council's report, Addressing the Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers, will be debated by the cabinet later this month.

It says the shortage leaves the authority vulnerable when planning applications are refused and then appealed, and also leads to unauthorised encampments.

There are currently 13 private sites in the Cheshire East region, with 112 permanent pitches and two transient pitches.

There is one council-run camp, the Astbury Marsh Site, off Newcastle Road, Congleton, with 18 pitches. There is also an eight-pitch site with temporary permission and two sites for travelling Showmen with four pitches.

The council has allocated £540,000 to fund its search for new camp sites.

At the last count, carried out in July 2011, there were a total of 127 caravans used by Gypsies or Travellers in Cheshire East. In July 2010, there were 139, and 152 in July 2009.

Council leader Michael Jones, pictured, said they would now work with private landlords to find suitable sites.

He added: "In the past, we had to find sites on council-owned land. Now we can work with other people. Private developers can be asked for a contribution for Gypsy and Traveller sites.

"Or if a developer wants to build 100 houses, 30 to 35 of those would need to be affordable. We can say in return for reducing that number, have you got a site elsewhere that would be suitable for Gypsies and Travellers.

"Nothing has been identified yet, but we are open to any sites which come available."

Crewe councillor Roy Cartlidge said: "The last thing we want is unauthorised camps. I live opposite the Georges Playing Fields and, on regular occasions, Travellers will park there and it has been trashed.

"If we had a site where they could stop and they could be moved on from illegal encampments.

"It is a sensitive issue, but it is not something we can ignore."