From the Thurrock Gazette
THURROCK Council has come under fire once more for failing to deal quickly enough with Travellers settling on an illegal site.
Travellers began settling on green belt land at the end of Malvern Road, in Little Thurrock, in June, but told officers they were clearing the land.
Days later, a planning application was lodged for five caravan pitches and day rooms, after the group had been threatened with action.
Last Thursday, the council served a stop notice, forbidding any more development.
But the notice was only issued once the occupants had caused chaos having a mobile home delivered.
Little Thurrock Rectory ward councillor Rob Gledhill said: “In June I was told four families in caravans had pitched up.
“Officers who attended were told they were just there to clear the site but within days they had put in a planning application. Despite the application not being completed in time, the caravans were allowed to stay.
"Residents and I are angry that, despite being given more time to submit valid plans than most applicants, it wasn’t until they got wind of enforcement action that their application was finally complete.
“Since then they have changed their plans, had a mobile home delivered, cut back trees and shrubs and started other preparation works so clearly they do not intend to abide by the rules.
“It was good to see the council acted so quickly on Thursday serving the stop notice in just a few hours. However, had they had acted faster when the original application was not completed in time residents would not have this uncertainty.”
A council spokesman said: “The council can and does take swift court action to deal with breaches of planning control.
“However, the council does have to follow national planning laws and procedures. That is the case in this instance, and the council is doing all it can within the law to resolve the situation.”
The authority has been criticised for failing to take quick action at another Travellers’ site in Southend Road, Corringham.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Evidence shows more pitches needed for Travellers - Surrey
From Guildford Borough Council
We released research today that shows the borough requires additional pitches to meet the accommodation needs of the local Traveller community.
The Traveller Accommodation Assessment (TAA), which forms a key part of the new Local Plan evidence base, shows that a further 43 pitches and six plots are required by the Traveller and travelling Show people community from 2012 to 2017.
Since June 2012, we have granted permission for 16 new pitches. There is a remaining need for 27 pitches and six travelling show people plots in the next four years. An extra 30 pitches and two plots will be needed between 2017 and 2027 to meet future growth.
Cllr Monika Juneja, Lead Councillor for Planning and Governance, says: "It is becoming increasingly difficult for Travellers in our community to find suitable places to live due to a lack of pitches. As a result, Travellers face overcrowding and doubling-up on sites, and they are sometimes forced to locate in unsuitable areas. This does not need to be the case, and the new Local Plan offers us an opportunity to find suitable locations for Traveller accommodation.
"The Traveller Accommodation Assessment provides an understanding of their needs and is based on interviews with people from our travelling community. A sound Local Plan will help us address those needs, using their feedback and other information to meet the current and future demand for pitches. It will also help us better manage any temporary encampments in unsuitable places."
The TAA will help inform our Traveller Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment that identifies potential sites for Traveller accommodation.
We released research today that shows the borough requires additional pitches to meet the accommodation needs of the local Traveller community.
The Traveller Accommodation Assessment (TAA), which forms a key part of the new Local Plan evidence base, shows that a further 43 pitches and six plots are required by the Traveller and travelling Show people community from 2012 to 2017.
Since June 2012, we have granted permission for 16 new pitches. There is a remaining need for 27 pitches and six travelling show people plots in the next four years. An extra 30 pitches and two plots will be needed between 2017 and 2027 to meet future growth.
Cllr Monika Juneja, Lead Councillor for Planning and Governance, says: "It is becoming increasingly difficult for Travellers in our community to find suitable places to live due to a lack of pitches. As a result, Travellers face overcrowding and doubling-up on sites, and they are sometimes forced to locate in unsuitable areas. This does not need to be the case, and the new Local Plan offers us an opportunity to find suitable locations for Traveller accommodation.
"The Traveller Accommodation Assessment provides an understanding of their needs and is based on interviews with people from our travelling community. A sound Local Plan will help us address those needs, using their feedback and other information to meet the current and future demand for pitches. It will also help us better manage any temporary encampments in unsuitable places."
The TAA will help inform our Traveller Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment that identifies potential sites for Traveller accommodation.
Travellers move horses onto land where Gypsy site could be built - Sussex
From the Crawley News
A CAMPAIGN against a proposed Traveller site in Broadfield is being stepped up – after families started to graze horses in the area.
Residents are concerned an endangered bird species could be threatened further, that there will be increased traffic and that they will lose a "beautiful haven" if land at Buchan Park Kennels is transformed into a permanent home for Travellers
T
hese worries have been heightened after the horses were left grazing on the site.
Natalie Bingham, 41, said: "The horses have been left there for weeks.
"At times they are chained and when let loose they have been found in Buchan Country Park's car park and the grounds of Cottesmore School.
"I spend a lot of my days off up there, it is a beautiful haven for nature that I would hate to lose.
"A whole new vehicle access route would have to be constructed and with the major infrastructure work needed the beauty would be destroyed.
"When you add this to the 2,500 homes being built nearby at Kilnwood Vale, the additional traffic and congestion would cause misery."
A 1,107-signature petition opposing the Travellers' site has already been submitted to Crawley Borough Council.
Kevin Berry, 46, said: "Within 50 to 150 metres of the site is a large area of heathland successfully managed to encourage the globally threatened nightjar bird.
"To build this site would severely jeopardise the continued survival of this species."
Richard Flint, 65, believes that any transformation of the land would have a detrimental effect on the area.
He said: "This is not a sensible development site. It is adjacent to an area of outstanding natural beauty.
"The land is a local amenity and it should be kept as it is for everyone to enjoy."
As part of the council's Local Plan, it identified two potential sites to accommodate Travellers.
One was the site in Broadfield, and the other was an area north of Langley Walk, in Langley Green.
However, in July it emerged that the Langley Green site had been rejected by council officers.
Borough councillor Liam Marshall-Ascough, who has offered his help to the protesters, believes the council should fight government rules that say a permanent site must be established for Travellers.
He said: "I am not against Travellers in the slightest. But we are talking about only nine pitches for a maximum of 36 people who could aspire to live on a site in years to come.
"It could turn out they never wish to live on the site and in that case we would have wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"We have a large community objecting to it, compared to the potential 36 Travellers, and as a council we should stand up for them as the majority."
Alan Quirk, a Broadfield South councillor, said the council has issued an order for the animals to be removed.
He said: "We have taken a vet down to the site to make sure the horses are healthy.
"Initially the council hoped to remove the horses by the end of August but a new location was not available.
"An extension was given until the end of September and if they are not removed the council will take court action."
A CAMPAIGN against a proposed Traveller site in Broadfield is being stepped up – after families started to graze horses in the area.
Residents are concerned an endangered bird species could be threatened further, that there will be increased traffic and that they will lose a "beautiful haven" if land at Buchan Park Kennels is transformed into a permanent home for Travellers
T
hese worries have been heightened after the horses were left grazing on the site.
Natalie Bingham, 41, said: "The horses have been left there for weeks.
"At times they are chained and when let loose they have been found in Buchan Country Park's car park and the grounds of Cottesmore School.
"I spend a lot of my days off up there, it is a beautiful haven for nature that I would hate to lose.
"A whole new vehicle access route would have to be constructed and with the major infrastructure work needed the beauty would be destroyed.
"When you add this to the 2,500 homes being built nearby at Kilnwood Vale, the additional traffic and congestion would cause misery."
A 1,107-signature petition opposing the Travellers' site has already been submitted to Crawley Borough Council.
Kevin Berry, 46, said: "Within 50 to 150 metres of the site is a large area of heathland successfully managed to encourage the globally threatened nightjar bird.
"To build this site would severely jeopardise the continued survival of this species."
Richard Flint, 65, believes that any transformation of the land would have a detrimental effect on the area.
He said: "This is not a sensible development site. It is adjacent to an area of outstanding natural beauty.
"The land is a local amenity and it should be kept as it is for everyone to enjoy."
As part of the council's Local Plan, it identified two potential sites to accommodate Travellers.
One was the site in Broadfield, and the other was an area north of Langley Walk, in Langley Green.
However, in July it emerged that the Langley Green site had been rejected by council officers.
Borough councillor Liam Marshall-Ascough, who has offered his help to the protesters, believes the council should fight government rules that say a permanent site must be established for Travellers.
He said: "I am not against Travellers in the slightest. But we are talking about only nine pitches for a maximum of 36 people who could aspire to live on a site in years to come.
"It could turn out they never wish to live on the site and in that case we would have wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"We have a large community objecting to it, compared to the potential 36 Travellers, and as a council we should stand up for them as the majority."
Alan Quirk, a Broadfield South councillor, said the council has issued an order for the animals to be removed.
He said: "We have taken a vet down to the site to make sure the horses are healthy.
"Initially the council hoped to remove the horses by the end of August but a new location was not available.
"An extension was given until the end of September and if they are not removed the council will take court action."
Travellers' pile of rubbish set on fire on Tooting Common - London
From the Wandsworth Guardian
Two fire engines had to be called to Tooting Common yesterday after one of the piles of rubbish dumped by Travellers last week was set alight.
On Friday, horrified dogwalkers and ramblers discovered several huge piles of rubbish which had been discarded by a 20-strong convoy of caravans.
The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Walking through the common this afternoon we spotted that one of the dumped piles in Bedford Woods had been set alight.
"The fire brigade was called and the fire finally extinguished, thankfully without too much damage to the surrounding woodland.
"It is of concern, however, that there are so many piles of rubbish remaining which could also be set on fire causing greater damage to our local common."
Wandsworth Council has begun the long, arduous process of removing what it believes to be several tonnes of waste including mattresses, timber, rubbish and general waste.
see also: SW Londoner - Travellers blamed for trashing Tooting Common as £3,000 clean-up operation gets underway
Two fire engines had to be called to Tooting Common yesterday after one of the piles of rubbish dumped by Travellers last week was set alight.
On Friday, horrified dogwalkers and ramblers discovered several huge piles of rubbish which had been discarded by a 20-strong convoy of caravans.
The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Walking through the common this afternoon we spotted that one of the dumped piles in Bedford Woods had been set alight.
"The fire brigade was called and the fire finally extinguished, thankfully without too much damage to the surrounding woodland.
"It is of concern, however, that there are so many piles of rubbish remaining which could also be set on fire causing greater damage to our local common."
Wandsworth Council has begun the long, arduous process of removing what it believes to be several tonnes of waste including mattresses, timber, rubbish and general waste.
see also: SW Londoner - Travellers blamed for trashing Tooting Common as £3,000 clean-up operation gets underway
Travellers look to a new age future - Norfolk
From the Diss Express
A family of New Age Travellers who have made woods near Hempnall their home for ten years are applying for permission to retain two caravans and develop four pitches to station up to eight more caravans.
A planning application has been lodged with South Norfolk Council.
A report says New Age Travellers have become a rare breed.
Applicant John Hollis is also a woodsman, a profession at least one of his children aspires to follow.
They are integrated into the local community and enjoy the same rights as other Travellers.
They pursue an alternative lifestyle and are committed to environmental sustainability.
A large number of forestry workers come from the New Age community and they are known for their love of trees.
The application is also for a charcoal burner which needs to be on site.
Spring Wood sells about £6,000 of charcoal a year.
The Spring Wood site is described as a forest enterprise and the occupiers have sought to develop an alternative lifestyle to support themselves and their family.
The report to the council says the applicants have accomplished something very unusual.
A family of New Age Travellers who have made woods near Hempnall their home for ten years are applying for permission to retain two caravans and develop four pitches to station up to eight more caravans.
A planning application has been lodged with South Norfolk Council.
A report says New Age Travellers have become a rare breed.
Applicant John Hollis is also a woodsman, a profession at least one of his children aspires to follow.
They are integrated into the local community and enjoy the same rights as other Travellers.
They pursue an alternative lifestyle and are committed to environmental sustainability.
A large number of forestry workers come from the New Age community and they are known for their love of trees.
The application is also for a charcoal burner which needs to be on site.
Spring Wood sells about £6,000 of charcoal a year.
The Spring Wood site is described as a forest enterprise and the occupiers have sought to develop an alternative lifestyle to support themselves and their family.
The report to the council says the applicants have accomplished something very unusual.
Travellers served with stop notice in Little Thurrock - Essex
From Your Thurrock
TRAVELLERS who have pitched up at the bottom of Malvern Road have been served a notice to stop works after causing traffic chaos last Thursday (Sept 19th)..
The notice prevents the occupiers of the site from having any further caravans, building materials delivered or carrying out works at the site.
Little Thurrock Rectory councillor, Rob Gledhill said “On Thursday residents in Dartview, Chadwell Road and Malvern Road called saying a massive mobile home was being delivered to the site and that it was blocking the road. Both residents, Cllr Kelly and I informed the Council of the problem and within hours they had served the site owners a stop notice.
“In June, I was notified that four families in caravans had pitched up on the site. Officers who attended were told they were just there to clear the site but within days they had put in a planning permission for five mobile home pitches and day rooms. Despite the application not being completed in time, the caravans were allowed to stay.”
The site, which is classed as metropolitan green belt, was last occupied nearly a decade ago following temporary permission being issued by the planning inspectorate.
Rob added “Local residents and I are angry that, despite being given more time to submit valid plans than most applicants, it wasn’t until after getting wind of enforcement action that their application was finally complete.
“Since then they have changed their plans, had a massive mobile home delivered, cut back trees and shrubs and started other preparation works so clearly they do not intend to abide by planning rules. It was good to see that the Council acted so quickly on Thursday serving the stop notice in just a few hours.
“However, had they had acted faster when the original application was not completed in time residents would not have the uncertainty of an illegal site being set up and the Council potentially spending thousands of pound of tax payers money to move them on.”
The application 13/00574/FUL is due to be heard at the Planning Committee meeting on 24th October.
TRAVELLERS who have pitched up at the bottom of Malvern Road have been served a notice to stop works after causing traffic chaos last Thursday (Sept 19th)..
The notice prevents the occupiers of the site from having any further caravans, building materials delivered or carrying out works at the site.
Little Thurrock Rectory councillor, Rob Gledhill said “On Thursday residents in Dartview, Chadwell Road and Malvern Road called saying a massive mobile home was being delivered to the site and that it was blocking the road. Both residents, Cllr Kelly and I informed the Council of the problem and within hours they had served the site owners a stop notice.
“In June, I was notified that four families in caravans had pitched up on the site. Officers who attended were told they were just there to clear the site but within days they had put in a planning permission for five mobile home pitches and day rooms. Despite the application not being completed in time, the caravans were allowed to stay.”
The site, which is classed as metropolitan green belt, was last occupied nearly a decade ago following temporary permission being issued by the planning inspectorate.
Rob added “Local residents and I are angry that, despite being given more time to submit valid plans than most applicants, it wasn’t until after getting wind of enforcement action that their application was finally complete.
“Since then they have changed their plans, had a massive mobile home delivered, cut back trees and shrubs and started other preparation works so clearly they do not intend to abide by planning rules. It was good to see that the Council acted so quickly on Thursday serving the stop notice in just a few hours.
“However, had they had acted faster when the original application was not completed in time residents would not have the uncertainty of an illegal site being set up and the Council potentially spending thousands of pound of tax payers money to move them on.”
The application 13/00574/FUL is due to be heard at the Planning Committee meeting on 24th October.
Sutton Council sees huge spike in phonecalls about Travellers this year - London
From Your Local Guardian
Record numbers of people have contacted Sutton Council about the travelling community this year.
A Freedom of Information request has found that between 2011 and 2012, Sutton Council were contacted 16 times about Travellers, this year the figure has shot up to 350-400.
Between 2010 and 2011, the council was contacted seven times.
The council has spent £19,357 of taxpayers money so far this year on legal services and bailiffs to remove illegal Travellers encampments.
Record numbers of people have contacted Sutton Council about the travelling community this year.
A Freedom of Information request has found that between 2011 and 2012, Sutton Council were contacted 16 times about Travellers, this year the figure has shot up to 350-400.
Between 2010 and 2011, the council was contacted seven times.
The council has spent £19,357 of taxpayers money so far this year on legal services and bailiffs to remove illegal Travellers encampments.
Authorities should be ‘stronger’ over Leeds Travellers camp - Yorkshire
From the Yorkshire Evening Post
Travellers have once again rolled up on land protected by a limited injunction in Leeds sparking calls for police powers to be more readily used.
Around 30 caravans, cars and vans were parked on the grass land near Radio Aire, off Kirkstall Road, in Leeds, last weekend.
The site is covered by a permanent injunction, which bans two named Leeds families from camping on the site, although for the third time this year a group from outside the city has moved in.
With Leeds City Council again facing a costly journey through the courts to seek an eviction order, Traveller welfare group Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE) feel the police power to move groups from sensitive land should be more readily enforced.
Helen Jones, chief executive at Leeds GATE, said: “I just don’t understand why holistically the local authorities, including the police, don’t use a power which we would support them in. It needs more communication.
“The council should go stronger on the policy they have dabbled around with in terms of negotiated stopping.”
She said at Kirkstall Road the authorities in Leeds should use Section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which states groups of trespassing vehicles parked on land deemed “sensitive” can be moved on to other suitable sites by police.
GATE feel that it could then lead to more authorised temporary sites, such as trialled in Holbeck last year, where Travellers agree to look after barren land, behave acceptably and ensure restricted numbers for a short period of time before voluntarily moving on at an agreed date.
Earlier this year Coun Peter Gruen, the council’s lead member for neighbourhoods and planning, said that the £10,000 spent on two permanent injunctions was “money well spent because it sends a message that we are not going to mess about”.
He also outlined plans for a further injunction that could see the council try to ban any unauthorised camps from nuisance spots in the city, as it seeks a £1m expansion of its Cottingley Springs permanent Traveller site.
Clearing unauthorised Traveller camps cost the council more than £200,000 last year.
A council spokeswoman said it is looking to secure an eviction through the county court for the Kirkstall Road Travellers but no court date has yet been set.
Travellers have once again rolled up on land protected by a limited injunction in Leeds sparking calls for police powers to be more readily used.
Around 30 caravans, cars and vans were parked on the grass land near Radio Aire, off Kirkstall Road, in Leeds, last weekend.
The site is covered by a permanent injunction, which bans two named Leeds families from camping on the site, although for the third time this year a group from outside the city has moved in.
With Leeds City Council again facing a costly journey through the courts to seek an eviction order, Traveller welfare group Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE) feel the police power to move groups from sensitive land should be more readily enforced.
Helen Jones, chief executive at Leeds GATE, said: “I just don’t understand why holistically the local authorities, including the police, don’t use a power which we would support them in. It needs more communication.
“The council should go stronger on the policy they have dabbled around with in terms of negotiated stopping.”
She said at Kirkstall Road the authorities in Leeds should use Section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which states groups of trespassing vehicles parked on land deemed “sensitive” can be moved on to other suitable sites by police.
GATE feel that it could then lead to more authorised temporary sites, such as trialled in Holbeck last year, where Travellers agree to look after barren land, behave acceptably and ensure restricted numbers for a short period of time before voluntarily moving on at an agreed date.
Earlier this year Coun Peter Gruen, the council’s lead member for neighbourhoods and planning, said that the £10,000 spent on two permanent injunctions was “money well spent because it sends a message that we are not going to mess about”.
He also outlined plans for a further injunction that could see the council try to ban any unauthorised camps from nuisance spots in the city, as it seeks a £1m expansion of its Cottingley Springs permanent Traveller site.
Clearing unauthorised Traveller camps cost the council more than £200,000 last year.
A council spokeswoman said it is looking to secure an eviction through the county court for the Kirkstall Road Travellers but no court date has yet been set.
Travellers facing eviction from Telford site - Shropshire
From the Shropshire Star
A group of Travellers is facing legal action after moving onto a field in Telford used for showjumping competitions.
Telford & Wrekin Council was today serving notice on the group to move off the field on Stirchley Lane, in Stirchley, by 5pm.
Council spokesman Russell Griffin said: “If they do not move we will be going to court to seek an order to evict them.”
The Travellers in StirchleyThe Travellers in Stirchley
The group of Travellers, with about six vehicles, moved onto the field and set up camp overnight.
They are believed to have moved from another site nearby in Madeley.
The field is used by Wrekin North Riding Club during the summer months for jumping practice and competitions.
A group of Travellers is facing legal action after moving onto a field in Telford used for showjumping competitions.
Telford & Wrekin Council was today serving notice on the group to move off the field on Stirchley Lane, in Stirchley, by 5pm.
Council spokesman Russell Griffin said: “If they do not move we will be going to court to seek an order to evict them.”
The Travellers in StirchleyThe Travellers in Stirchley
The group of Travellers, with about six vehicles, moved onto the field and set up camp overnight.
They are believed to have moved from another site nearby in Madeley.
The field is used by Wrekin North Riding Club during the summer months for jumping practice and competitions.
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