Travellers and Gypsies facing overcrowding in Lincolnshire

From the Sleaford Target

MORE than 20 caravan pitches and 10 houses are needed to support growing Gypsy and Traveller communities in the North Kesteven area, according to a new report.

The district council has been looking into the housing needs of the Gypsy and Traveller population over the next 20 years.

It has found Traveller families are expanding and others are coming into the area, which is expected to lead to overcrowding at the current facilities available.

North Kesteven District Council hopes farmers in Sleaford and other areas could put their own private land forward for caravan sites or development, effectively becoming landlords for traveller sites.

A council spokesman said:"The council anticipates that all of the pitches will be met through private development – as is the case with current provision – rather than by the council building and operating them.

"Specific locations have not yet been identified, but there is a preference that they should be along main A road routes, within small sites, alongside or near to established family units and at a distance from settled communities.

"The process of allocating land will be undertaken separately over the coming year."

However Mark Smith, of Monks Wood Farm in Sleaford, said farmers may be reluctant to change the use of their farming land.

"I don't think it would happen because it will be a hassle, for lack of a better word," Mr Smith said.

"We have a field behind the house and we don't use it all times of the year.

"If we had people pitching up with caravans for eight months of the year it would be problematic.

"Since we would have people up and down our drive all day it wouldn't just affect farmers, it would affect other businesses as well.

"But technically we are tenant farmers, so if we got told we would kind of have to put up and shut up."

Nick Mountain, managing director at MC Mountain and Son Limited in Quarrington, added: "It would be something the council would have to buy and lease back to the Traveller community, if farmers are interested.

"I can understand the plight of Traveller communities, like everyone else they need more houses."

The housing assessment report carried out by the council also recommended the City of Lincoln Council and West Lindsey District Council to increase their provision for Gypsies and Travellers.

The report found that more than 70 pitches, 35 houses and one "travelling people's show yard" are needed across Lincolnshire over the next two decades on top of current sites, to prevent overcrowding.

In a first for the county, 'temporary stopping places' could also be created, to help stop families on the move having to use illegal sites.

The Central Lincolnshire Joint Planning Committee approved the report on Monday, December 9.

It means that North Kesteven, West Lindsey and the City of Lincoln councils will all take on the recommendations.

The housing report will now be scrutinised by a Government inspector.