No more sites available for Gypsies in South Bucks - Buckinghamshire

From the Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THERE are no more sites available for Gypsies in South Bucks, according to some councillors.

The matter was discussed by Beaconsfield Town Council (BTC) planning committee on Thursday last week.

The four district councils in Bucks have jointly commissioned Opinion Research Services to undertake a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment. When finished, the assessment, which involves interviews with Travellers, councils, residents and community groups, will provide a target number of pitches for the next 10 years.

Each authority will then have to decide how to meet the need.

Councillor Matt Denyer said at the meeting: “Since we have already said we are overdeveloped, I don’t see how we can have any sites here.”

Mr Denyer, who also sits on the South Bucks District Council (SBDC) sustainable development policy advisory group, added that the district has the most sites in the county already, and he did not see how it could accommodate more.

SBDC has begun its own assessment and will consult during the summer if it needs to. Chiltern District Council has asked its parish and town councils to suggest sites, but as yet has no suggestions.