Cumbrian council searching for sites for Gypsies and Travellers - Cumbria

From the News and Star

Potential sites are being sought across the Eden area that could be used for as homes by Gypsies and Travellers.

The hunt for the sites has been launched after the county was given more than £1m last year to pay for new caravan pitches for travelling families. The £1.4 million was awarded to help pay for pitches for 40 Traveller families.

The money was part of a £47million package of funding for local authorities and Cumbria’s bid was one of the biggest in scale across the country.

Janet Smith, from not-for-profit company Home Space Accommodation which is overseeing the search nationally, said the money could pay for around eight new Traveller sites in Cumbria, each with up to five pitches.

She said research by Suffolk University identified a need in Cumbria for a further 89 Traveller pitches.

Eden Council chief executive Robin Hooper said the land could be used either as a permanent home or a transit site for those travelling through the area, such as Travellers flocking to the Appleby horse fair.

He said a recent consultation exercise had identified Mile End, on the edge of Penrith, as a potential location.

“However, this site is not being pursued at present,” he added. “If the public wish to suggest other land that could be suitable for a gyspy and Traveller site, we are interested to hear from them and would welcome any expressions of interest.”

The council has commissioned a study into the need for the different types of Gypsy and Traveller sites and the results are expected to be finalised in the next few weeks.

Members of the public wishing to suggest areas of land that could be use on a permanent or temporary basis can should contact Eden District Council’s Planning Policy Team telephone: 01768 817817 or email: loc.plan@eden.gov.uk