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

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Climate Change Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£40,476 - £42,708
Are you a passionate and enthusiastic Climate Change Officer Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Transition Home Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 13 £45,718 - £49,764 (Pay Award Pending)
Could you support young people to realise their individual potential and prepare them for their journey towards independence. NOT JUST A PLACE OF WOR Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEND and Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker (Communication and Interaction Team)

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
We are recruiting a SEND & Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker to join our Specialist SEND & Inclusion Team. We would be particularly intereste Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner