Bournemouth councillors waiting for official confirmation over plans to share Traveller site - Dorset

From the Daily Echo

COUNCILLORS are still waiting for official confirmation that their plans to share a Traveller transit site will allow for swifter enforcement action.

Bournemouth council says it has nowhere suitable to build a transit site and so is looking to share a facility with Poole and Dorset councils.

Efforts to get this arrangement approved by the government appear to have paid off, with Secretary of State Eric Pickles saying he ‘very much welcomes’ the idea of local councils working together.

But at the last meeting of Bournemouth cabinet, councillors were told they had still not received written confirmation from the government that a shared site would be sufficient to allow the police to use their enforcement powers.

Dorset Police and Bournemouth council believe the law currently only allows for the use of enforcement powers if Travellers can be moved to an authorised site within the borough boundary.

Cllr John Beesley, leader of the council, pictured, said: “Mr Pickles has told us that greater flexibility can be interpreted through the legislation by the police but we’re awaiting confirmation of that in writing.

“That’s a different interpretation of the act that has been used by the police and our own legal representatives.

“It will be welcome news if he is able to confirm that it will mean people can use a site that is not necessarily in the borough boundaries.”

He said Bournemouth council’s view was unchanged, adding: “From our knowledge of Bournemouth and borough-wide analysis taken during the Dorset County Council consultation, it’s very unlikely that a suitable alternative will be forthcoming in Bournemouth.”