More pitches will curb "nuisance" of illegal stopping, say councils

4 November 2014

By DAMIAN LE BAS

Editor

MORE sites for Gypsies and Travellers should mean less people stopping without permission, say officials speaking for three councils in Lincolnshire.

A report commissioned by the councils of West Lindsey, Lincoiln City and North Kesteven has said that the number of legal pitches in the area needs to be almost doubled in the next 20 years to cater for Gypsies and Travellers in the area.

There are currently 85 local authority-run pitches in the area, and it has been estimated that another 72 will be needed in the coming years.

A new yard for travelling Showpeople in the area has also been tabled.

Ric Metcalfe is chair of the task force which has done a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) for the area. He said: "There is a legal duty on local councils to look ahead and anticipate what the future need might be and make sure there is provision for it."

Although the specific legal duty to build Traveller sites was removed by the Conservatives in 1994, local authorities now need to produce local plans which look at general housing needs in the area.

This can include the needs of Gypsies and Travellers for a legal place to stay.

Speaking to the BBC, Gypsy Council chairman Joseph Jones said that "by providing more pitches many of the problems associated with 'unauthorised encampments' could be prevented."

In spite of a severe nationwide shortage of legal stopping places, including temporary 'transit' sites, coalition ministers have spoken out against unauthorised encampments- meaning Gypsies, Travellers and others stopping without permission- in recent years. Last August, communities secretary Eric Pickles spoke out in favour of councils taking swift action to tackle encampments that had been set up without permission.

"I want all councils to be ready to take action straight away to stop illegal camps and unauthorised sites starting in the fist place. Decisive action early on saves money and unnecessary upset for local residents," he said.