Wiltshire Council has addressed the county’s lack of transit sites for Gypsies and Travellers following an “urgent wake up call” from a national charity.
This comes after the Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) charity found that only 9 per cent of local authorities that responded to a Freedom of Information request have transit provision in their area.
Cllr Nick Botterill has said that the emerging Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document will provide “a network of sites to meet the identified need up until 2038”.
READ MORE: Plan for 128 Gypsy and traveller pitches in Wiltshire progresses
Wiltshire Council does not own or manage any transit sites or transit pitches on permanent sites across the county.
Cllr Nick Botterill, cabinet member for development management and strategic planning said, “We recognise that there is a need for transit sites for Gypsies, Travellers and travelling showpeople in Wiltshire, and that’s why our emerging Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document has identified the need for three emergency stopping sites in the north, south and west of Wiltshire.
“This will provide a network of sites to meet the identified need up until 2038.
“Following a consultation on the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document earlier this year, the response to the consultation and submission of the Plan for independent examination will be considered by Cabinet and Full Council early in 2025.”
Abbie Kirkby, head of policy and public affairs at FFT, said: “These shockingly low levels of transit site provision make it abundantly clear that families are being failed nationally.
“As well as the low level of provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites, in the few places where transit sites do exist, access can be made prohibitive, through a lack of transparency on the availability and costs of a pitch.
“This data should act as an urgent wake up call – we hope to see the Government using the current planning reforms as an opportunity to increase and improve the Gypsy and Traveller site provision and stopping places.”
SEE ALSO: Wiltshire Travellers 'hit by discriminatory and racist language'
Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year! Get a full year of the Wiltshire Times for only £25 or try 6 months for just £6. Support local journalism and stay informed about what matters most. Subscribe here 👉👉https://t.co/OABFm4dsuO pic.twitter.com/vD7vqDmb8H
— Wiltshire Times (@wiltshiretimes) November 21, 2024
Wiltshire Council’s Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document lays out how the council will provide 128 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and 9 plots for travelling showpeople by 2038.
Some of the pitches will be acquired by intensifying pre-existing Traveller sites, whilst others will be on new sites altogether.
Site intensification is planned in locations such as Chippenham, Semington, Southwick, and Devizes.
The new sites are suggested in Bushton, Edigonton, Cleverton, Rowde, Upper Seagry and Potterne.
Share