Details unveiled of Traveller sites spending - Yorkshire

From the Telegraph and Argus

Details of how £820,000 of taxpayers’ cash will be spent on improving two official Travellers’ sites in the district have now been released by Bradford Council.

Sites at Mary Street, off Bowling Back Lane, Bradford, which has 26 pitches, and in Esholt, Shipley, with 19 pitches are to have their kitchen and wash blocks stripped out and refurbished with new kit.

The cost is being shared between Bradford Council, which is putting in £352,000, and the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency which is paying £468,000.

The amenity buildings themselves will also receive a make-over to make them warmer and more comfortable.

John Major, the Council’s assistant director for environmental health and regulatory services, told the Telegraph & Argus: “With match funding from the Government, Bradford Council is refurbishing the existing amenity blocks which house a kitchen and bathroom. We are installing new kitchen units and bathroom furniture as well as improving the heating and insulation to address the excessive cold which is a major issue.”

As reported in yesterday’s T&A, the refurbishment programme has attracted some criticism, coming at a time of large-scale cuts in Council services.

But Mr Major said the Council was fulfilling its legal duties by upgrading both the sites.

“The assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs is a statutory requirement under housing legislation, as well as ensuring that those facilities provided meet the required standard,” he said.

Work has already started on improvements at the Esholt Traveller site where the rent for each pitch is £4,202-a-year or some £80 a week. In addition the occupants are also responsible for council tax.

Councillor Andrew Thornton is the executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, the department which oversees Gypsy and Traveller matters, and he said there was an obligation to improve and maintain such amenities to an acceptable standard.

And shadow spokesman for the Conservative group, Councillor John Pennington (Bingley) said in many ways it was a good thing to do.

“I think compared to some, Bradford does go the extra mile to facilitate travelling people,” he said. It’s good that the Council does provide these centres and I welcome people using them – I just wish they’d use them more.

“The more that Travellers and Gypsies use these sites and do not stay on car parks, the better.

“In my opinion it’s the mess which they leave behind on illegal sites which alienates them from the public the most.

“Another issue is that if they stay on the Council sites then there is a much better chance that their children will get educated and have some stability in their lives,” said Coun Pennington.

Gypsy and Traveller inclusion officer Violet Cannon lived on the Mary Street site as a three-year-old child in a Romany family and said it was right that refurbishment was taking place. “There’s still a lady living on the site who was there when I was a girl, and I bet it’s not been improved more than twice in the last 30 years. Both the sites are below standard. Bradford are barely doing the minimum for these residents who pay rent and Band A council tax.”