Extra £50k for Gypsy and Traveller site extension - Surrey

From Get Surrey

GUILDFORD Borough Council will put forward an extra £50,000 to allow extensions to a Gypsy and Traveller site in Ash, following a unanimous decision made at last week's executive meeting.

Ash Bridge Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Site is the largest site in Surrey and is set to become even bigger after planning permission was granted in December.

The extra funds will go towards five additional pitches to help deal with overcrowding, as there are currently 18 caravans squashed on to 13 pitches.

Speaking after a meeting of the borough council executive on Thursday (April 18), Nick Sutcliffe, councillor for Ash South and Tongham, said: "The decision went through as expected, all the members were very supportive of it.

"The site is well-established and has been there for 20 years and so this is really good news, as it means that we do not need to take up other greenfield land with more pitches."

He said the money will "facilitate the next steps" in the planning process but revealed there is not yet a start date for the extension.

Cllr Monika Juneja said: "As lead member for Gypsies and Travellers policy, it is my aim and that of the executive agenda to fully support the need to house this community."

She added: "The most important factor for me and the executive is that we extend this site and provide homes for a number of families within the Gypsy and Traveller community who make up 0.35% of our ethnic minority population, making them the biggest within the borough."

At the moment it is estimated that the project will cost £720,047, part of which will be funded by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Cllr Juneja added: "The Homes and Communities Agency has awarded us a grant of £244,532 towards the cost of the project and I hope when the need arises we will fund the rest of the cost, which is £475,515."

The £50,000 will be used to cover the costs of appointing consultants to carry out the design of the project and associated work needed to obtain tenders for the construction phase.