New rules aim to tackle Sandwell Gypsy encampments - West Midlands

From the Express and Star

A new policy which will help to protect council land from ‘pop-up’ Traveller encampments has been drawn up.

The plans, drawn up by Sandwell Council, state any unauthorised encampment that is causing ‘substantive and justified’ complaints from the community will not be tolerated.

But it adds there are instances where encampments may be allowed to stay, and gives a ‘basic’ checklist to which Gypsies and Travellers must adhere if they do not want to be moved on immediately.

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell’s cabinet member for jobs and economy who will consider the plan on Monday, said the new rules have been drawn up to ‘revamp’ previous policies.

He said: “Things such as legislation change, and we need to find better ways of working in partnership with the police and others, so we have to make sure they are signed up to the policy as well.”

The policy is also in place to protect the council against any unfounded accusations from Gypsies or Travellers and their representatives when the council wants to repossess its land from unauthorised encampments.