Residents demand ‘Gypsies’ move on - Somerset

RESIDENTS have threatened to stop paying their council tax unless North Somerset Council clears a ‘Gypsy’ site, four years after they first complained.

The drastic measure was suggested at a recent Cleeve Parish Council meeting because it was felt it would force the council to act.
A woman moved onto the Cleeve Hill Road site in 2007 with a van and a horsebox and was joined by a man in the summer, prompting residents to yet again voice their frustrations.
An enforcement notice was issued on the woman two years ago but due to difficulties over who owned the land and where she would be moved to, nothing was ever carried out.
One retired resident in his 70s, who asked to remain anonymous for his own safety, said enough was enough and called on something to be done.
He said: “It doesn’t appear to residents that North Somerset Council has given its full commitment and weight to make the people move.
“If we put a foot wrong the police are on us right away. Most of us pay a lot of council tax and it gets up our noses that she gets all the collections and yet she contributes nothing to it.”
He said there is a public bin on the site which the council collect.

Have your say on Dorset Gypsy and Travellers sites

EAST Dorset District Council is to launch its consultation on proposed gypsy and traveller sites in its area on 18th November,

The Dorset-wide Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document (DPD) Issues and Options Consultation runs for 12 weeks until February 10, 2012.
All Dorset planning authorities will be running their consultation at the same time and are working together with the county council to produce a Development Plan Document (DPD). Once adopted, this document will allocate permanent and transit sites to meet the county's needs for the next 15 years. Over the last year, consultants Baker Associates have been working to identify and assess potentially suitable locations against strict criteria, before drawing up a shortlist of options for each Dorset council.
The Dorset-wide consultation process has been approved by each council and now, as part of this process, the Council will hold two public exhibitions in the district. These will be on 24th November at Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne from noon - 3.30pm and 28th November at The Hub, Verwood from 3.30pm - 7.30pm.
Copies of the Issues and Options Consultation document, Site Options Summary document and response forms will be available at EDDC's Offices, Corfe Mullen Library, Colehill Library, Ferndown Library, Fordingbridge Library, Ringwood Library, Verwood Library, West Moors Library, Wimborne Library, Corfe Mullen Parish Council Offices, Ferndown Town Council Offices, Wimborne Town Council Offices and Verwood Town Council Offices.

East Dorset residents to have their say on Traveller sites

Gypsy family's site set for approval - Oxford

A family of Gypsies who hope to create a better life for their children look likely to get planning permission to set up site on Green Belt land. Two sisters-in-law, who do not want to be named, and their 12 children moved on to land off Woodstock Road, near Yarnton, in August. They told the Oxford Mail they wanted to send their children to school, adding: “We do not want our children to turn out like we did.” The plot was bought for them at auction by a family friend and they have applied to change the use from agriculture to a Gypsy and Traveller site. Cherwell District Council officers have recommended approval, saying the harm to the Green Belt is “outweighed by the factors submitted by the applicant”.

The other side of the story - Silverdale, near Newcastle-under-Lyme

Dale Farm has dominated the headlines in recent months. But as Alex Turner finds, there are plenty of examples of landlords and Travellers working together successfully.

At the Cemetery Road Gypsy and Traveller site which has 19 plots at Silverdale, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, landlord Aspire Housing has carried out major improvement work after consultation with residents.
According to Chris Whitwell, director of national charity Friends, Families and Travellers, this sort of positive approach towards site provision can go a long way towards negating occasional friction between travelling and settled communities. ‘Experience up and down the country shows that good, well-managed Gypsy and Traveller sites will not cause problems within the local community,’ he says.
The work, funded by £200,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency and Aspire, included new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as upgrading heating and lighting. An onsite community room, which doubles as a classroom for some residents’ children, has also been updated and enlarged.

Search for Gypsy site starts again - Kilmarnock

A NEW cross-party initiative to choose the location of a Gypsy/Traveller site in East Ayrshire has been agreed by the council’s cabinet. Councillors voted to set up a member/officer working group – which will include the authority’s SNP, Labour and Conservative leaders – to come up with a new system for selecting a site. But the move was opposed by Labour members of the cabinet who argued that it was up to East Ayrshire’s SNP administration to come up with a policy. Last week’s decision follows the collapse of an earlier attempt by the council to choose a suitable site. In May cabinet members opted for a site in Muirkirk – selected from a shortlist which also included Ayr Road, Holmquarry Road and Queens Drive in Kilmarnock. But, after the decision was referred to the council’s governance and scrutiny committee, it was sent back to the cabinet with the recommendation that the ‘scoring mechanism’ used to consider potential sites should be reviewed.

Advantage villagers in fight against new Gypsy caravan site - East Yorkshire

HOMEOWNERS could win their fight against a Gypsy site on their doorstep in an East Yorkshire village. Residents were up in arms when Irish Travellers bought a plot of greenfield land and set up camp near Keyingham. Now, a retrospective planning application for the development is being recommended for refusal by East Riding Council. Objectors delivered a 328-signature petition and 367 personal letters and e-mails to the planning department as part of their campaign.

Villagers also set up a campaign group, Residents Against Inappropriate Development (Raid), in a bid to block the plans. Group spokesman Gary McMaster said: "The planning officers' recommendation is the good news we have been waiting to hear."This can be an emotive subject, but we believe there are good planning reasons why the scheme should be thrown out. The site is on greenbelt land where other horse owners who own plots there have had their plans turned down."

Kidderminster - response to new sites

Dozens speak out against Stourport Gypsy sites plans ABOUT 230 people packed into Stourport Civic Hall, where dozens of objectors spoke out against last night against controversial plans for four potential Gypsy sites in the town. The last in Wyre Forest District Council’s series of consultation meetings was to consider traveller pitches for Manor Farm in St John’s Road and Saiwen, Gables Yard and land next to Nunn’s Corner, all on the Sandy Lane Industrial Estate.

 

Council's approach to Travellers flawed says MP WYRE Forest’s MP has criticised the district council for asking Travellers where they want future pitches to be.Mark Garnier sent out a newsletter in response to Wyre Forest District Council’s proposals to find 43 pitches for gypsies, travellers and travelling show people by 2022. It said the approach was flawed.

Mr Garnier wrote: “In preparing their submission, Wyre Forest District Council, in the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment March, 2008, went to ask the existing Travellers how many pitches they would need in the future. By asking those who are already here what they want in the future, the process is skewed towards allocating pitches where there is already a significant Traveller community.” 

Still time to have your say on Wyre Forest Gypsy sites THE deadline is looming for Wyre Forest residents to have their say on possible Gypsy and Traveller sites. A series of public consultation meetings held by Wyre Forest District Council has come to an end but there is still time to make representations in writing by November 18. The seven shortlisted sites are: Manor Farm, St John’s Road, Stourport - 15 Gypsy pitches or one site for travelling showpeople, to be delivered between 2023 and 2028. The Gables Yard, Broach Road, Stourport - three Gypsy pitches to be delivered between 2013 and 2018. Saiwen, Sandy Lane, Stourport - three Gypsy pitches to be delivered between 2013 and 2018. Land next to Nunn’s Corner, Sandy Lane, Stourport, four Gypsy pitches to be delivered between 2013 and 2018. Lea Castle Hospital site, Park Gate Road, Kidderminster - 15 Gypsy pitches or one site for travelling showpeople to be delivered between 2018 and 2023 Sion Hill School site, Sion Hill, Kidderminster - 10 Gypsy pitches to be delivered between 2013 and 2018. Site at Stourport Road, Bewdley - 15 Gypsy pitches or one site for travelling Showpeople to be delivered between 2013 and 2018.

The Gypsy Dilemma - South Wales Argus

‘Difficult decisions’ in site debate NEWPORT is gripped by a Gypsy dilemma. Newport council must allocate an area of the city for a Gypsy site, but opposition is fierce, with hundreds of people voicing their concerns about site proposals in Pye Corner, Nash Mead, Queensway Meadows, Marshfield and Bettws. NATALIE CROCKETT looks at why a site is needed and the reasons behind it; the concerns of residents and the turmoil of city councillors as they debate the issue COUNCILLORS were embroiled in a heated debate on the Gypsy site issue at Tuesday’s full council meeting. 

 

Illegal camps pose problems ILLEGAL Travellers’ sites have been a problem in Newport for a number of years with Gypsies setting up home in undesignated areas all over the city. In September a family was moved on from the city’s much-loved Tredegar House after a two-month stay, while there are currently around ten caravans on Welsh Government owned land at Phoenix Park, off Corporation Road. Cllr John Richards raised concerns about the illegal site at Tuesday’s meeting fearing the caravans could deter a potential developer from buying the former Pirelli site next door. He said: “The sale of that site was imminent and 200 homes were going to be built. “I wonder if that will take place because what developer will want to buy a site with caravans on it and be left with a call to clear it?”  

 

Location guidance given to councils GUIDANCE from the Welsh Government states that where there is a need for Gypsy accommodation in an area, councils should allocate sufficient sites in their local development plans. It says they will need to demonstrate sites are suitable, and there is a realistic likelihood that those allocated in the plans will be made available for that purpose. They should also encourage Gypsies to put forward candidate sites.

 

Call to let public decide site SOME Labour members called for a referendum on the issue to better gauge public opinion. Lliswerry councillor Ken Critchley said it would give people an opportunity to debate the subject, while Pill councillor Ron Jones questioned whether Newport should have a designated site at all. He said: “It’s a very difficult subject because no matter where we want to put one, we are going to have public outcry. “Maybe we should have a referendum whether we should provide one in Newport. We may be going against the law but I don’t think there is a councillor that will put their hand up and say yes to one, putting their seat at risk next year.” Councillor Townsend said going to referendum on the issue would result in the council “ducking out” of its responsibilities.

 

Council crack-down on illegal Gypsy Traveller site - South Yorkshire

AN illegal Gypsy Traveller site was moved twice in two days after concerned residents raised the alarm. A court injunction was gained to move the community from the illegal site that had been erected on council land in Conisbrough. Doncaster Council staff monitored the site and also arranged for large boulders to be delivered to stop the encampment returning. However, just hours after the Gypsy Traveller group was escorted out of the borough by police they returned and set up an illegal camp on council land in Edlington. Tensions ran high within the local community and gangs of youths were dispersed by police. Just six hours later the group was evicted for the second time and escorted by police to the edge of Doncaster.

Swansea to act against Gypsy camp site

Swansea Council is set to take legal action against Gypsy Travellers camped unlawfully on land in the city. A site in Swansea Vale previously used as a park and ride facility for the Liberty Stadium has been used as an unauthorised campsite and has become plagued by fly-tipping. The Council will now seek a possession order to remove the vehicles and families unlawfully camped on the site and secure it against further fly-tipping. John Hague, Cabinet Member for Environment , said: "The Swansea Vale site has been affected by unauthorised camping. We need to tackle these issues and return the site to its use as a park and ride facility. "To achieve this we will be applying for a possession order with the courts.