Gypsy and Traveller sites: next steps - Newport, Wales

From Newport City Council

A report from the policy review group, set up by the council’s scrutiny committee for community planning and development, looking at potential Gypsy and Traveller sites in Newport will be given to a scrutiny meeting on 29 October.

The meeting was originally due to be held next week but has been postponed because of the significant number of responses received during the public consultation.

Every response is being read and analysed to enable the group to complete the review they were asked to undertake thoroughly and properly. Some of the issues raised during the consultation also require further investigation.

More than 5,500 responses were received during the 28-day consultation. This was a non-statutory process carried out in accordance with scrutiny procedures for public engagement.

Eleven sites were identified by the group as best meeting the criteria prescribed by the Welsh Government planning and housing policies. This followed careful consideration of more than 220 other possible locations, against this clear criteria.

Not all these sites will be needed to fulfil the council’s legal and planning responsibilities.

At least one permanent site has to be found to meet the accommodation needs of a very small number of families who already live in Newport and have strong ties to the city. As now, they will pay for the services they use as well as council tax.

A transit site is also required for those passing through. A managed site, where families would stay for a limited time and have to pay for services, will help the council tackle the recurrent problem of illegal encampments.

The scrutiny committee will make recommendations to cabinet but any decisions about which sites should be included in the Local Development Plan will be made by full council next year.

Members of the public will have opportunities to make further comments at various stages in the future. For example, when the Welsh Government considers Newport’s Local Development Plan, which has to identify proposed sites, or when planning applications are submitted.