William Eichler 16 April 2018

Put traveller site provision first, charities tell Whitehall

A number of charities have written to the Government urging it to address the ‘root cause’ of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites rather than adopting more punitive measures.

The housing minister Dominic Raab announced earlier this month a review of the law and powers to deal with illegal traveller sites. The latest figures show that 16% of all caravans – around 3,700 – are on unauthorised sites.

The consultation covers police and local authority powers, court processes, Government guidance, the provision of legal sites, and the impact on settled and nomadic communities.

However, 25 charities — including Friends, Families and Travellers and Race Equality Foundation — have written to Mr Raab urging him to ‘put traveller site provision first’.

‘We wish to highlight that increased enforcement powers are likely to worsen issues with unauthorised sites for settled communities across the country,’ the letter states.

‘If families are evicted from an unauthorised site, they often have nowhere else to go and therefore will have no other option but to create a new unauthorised site in a new area.

‘A better first step is to focus on adequate site provision in order to meet current and future need and for the government to fulfil its “positive obligation to facilitate the Gypsy way of life” (as outlined by the European Court of Human Rights in Chapman v UK).’

‘We the undersigned urge Ministers to support Gypsies and Travellers in the UK in addressing issues of site provision as a basis to improve the appalling health and education outcomes for many people in these communities,’ the letter continues.

‘If Gypsy and Traveller families cannot access a site to live on, they do not have easy access to water and sanitation, which most of us take for granted in the UK in the 21st Century.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Service – Social Care

Wrexham County Borough Council
G15 £63,148 - £67,058 per annum
There is an exciting opportunity within Children Social Care to join the senior management team Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Recuriter: Wrexham County Borough Council

Head of Service Social Work & Specialist Support

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Grade M scp 60 £72,118 - scp 64 £77,293
There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cafe Assistant - Weald Country Park

Essex County Council
Up to £13.3000 per hour
Café Assistant (Weald Country Park)Contract
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Deputyship Caseworker

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pen
Deputyship CaseworkerPermanent, Full Time£25,081 to £27,653 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Shovel Driver Plant Operative - A120 Waste Transfer Station

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £28033.00 per annum + 6% flat rate allowance
Shovel Driver Plant Operative - A120 Waste Transfer StationPermanent, Full Time£25,081 to £28,033 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner