New planning policy for gypsies and travellers
The government is committed to ensuring that members of the Gypsy and Traveller community have the same rights and responsibilities as every other citizen.
Why is new planning policy needed?
Previous guidance failed to provide enough sites for gypsies and travellers in many parts of the country. Gypsies and travellers are believed to experience the worst health and education of any disadvantaged group in England. The government now expects local authorities to take the lead in assessing the needs of gypsies and travellers alongside the needs of the settled population and to ensure that those needs are reflected in statutory planning documents.
What is happening in the South West?
Dorset councils are now preparing a Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller (including Travelling Showpeople) Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document to allocate permanent and transit sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople to meet identified needs for the next 15 years.
The new coalition Government
Earlier this summer, Regional Spatial Strategies and regional pitch targets were abolished and it is also intended that the circulars relating to Travellers will be replaced with new light-touch guidance outlining councils' statutory obligations.
Councils can now decide for themselves how many Traveller pitches are necessary according to local need and historic demand. A statement was made on the 29 August 2010 by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, stating that councils will get incentives for building authorised Traveller sites where they are needed.
