08/10/2007 - New sites for Gypsies and Travellers
News Item Details
- Date
- 9.39am, 8 October 2007
Potential areas of search for new sites for gypsies and travellers in northern and eastern Hertfordshire are to be published in an independent report on 8 October 2007. The areas have been identified in a report commissioned jointly by Herts County Council and the five district and borough councils in the area - East Herts, Broxbourne, Welwyn Hatfield, North Hertfordshire and Stevenage.
Local authorities are required by law to assess the accommodation needs of the gypsy and travelling communities in their areas, and to provide adequate accommodation in suitable places.
Independent research published by ORS (Opinion Research Services) last year concluded that there were not enough legal and permanent sites in this area and predicted that a total of 45 more pitches will be needed over the next five years.
So the six local authorities commissioned a report from independent consultants Scott Wilson to identify potential areas of search for sites in northern and eastern areas of the county that could meet the need for pitches outlined in the ORS report.
The Scott Wilson report sets out:
It is now up to each local authority to assess the areas of search for sites in their district, as identified in the report, to inform the new Local Development Framework (LDF) process – the documents which will guide future development in each district until 2021. The report provides a starting point for this process but represents the views of independent consultants which might not necessarily be supported by the commissioning authorities as their LDFs progress. No decision has yet been taken by any of the partnering authorities on the suitability of those areas of search identified in the report.
The final decision on the number of sites that each local authority must provide – but not their location – will be decided by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA).
A consultation carried out by EERA this summer stated that the East of England would require 1,220 additional caravan pitches for gypsies and travellers by 2011. EERA also advised that the shortage of official sites has contributed to the problem of unauthorised stays.
EERA, taking the ORS study into account, suggested that either 45 or 77 pitches may be needed across the five districts. Although EERA has not yet decided on a final number and is not expected to do so until early 2008, it is almost certain that some extra pitches will need to be found by all the five districts, hence the need to identify areas of search for potential sites.
Councillor Mandy Perkins said: “Welwyn Hatfield Council has a statutory responsibility to assess and meet the accommodation needs of the gypsy and traveller community in the area.
The two separate studies, which have now been undertaken by the partnering local authorities, will help inform the development of our respective future planning documents.
Welwyn Hatfield will be undertaking widespread consultation from 2008 onwards on all of the Borough’s development needs for the next 15 to 20 years, including those for gypsies and travellers.”
For further information, including access to the Scott Wilson report and a list of Frequently Asked Questions which includes relevant contact details, please visit this link.
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