Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) released a report on the current transit provision for Gypsies and Travellers, after Freedom of Information requests sent to 382 local authorities revealed that 92% of Local Authorities (LAs) that responded did NOT own or manage any transit sites or pitches.
FFT asked local authorities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland about:
- The number of transit pitches and transit sites within the authority’s area;
- Lengths of time for which people are permitted to stay, and any minimum ‘no return’ periods following a stay;
- Costs of securing and renting a pitch and utility charges;
- What amenities, facilities and services are available to site residents.
We received responses from 95% (362) of UK local government authorities, showing:
- More than 90% had no local authority owned or managed transit sites or pitches.
- Of these, 54 (15%) responded to say that they held no data about transit provision.
- Just 9% of authorities told us they had transit provision within their area – a total of 31 authorities across all four UK regions.
This data cements that demand for safe stopping places outstrips supply.
Yet, three quarters of authorities with transit provision implemented a maximum amount of time people could stay on a pitch or site, which could be as little as 14 days. Additionally, over half of the authorities used minimum ‘no return’ periods, barring families from returning to the same place for up to a year.
Accessing somewhere safe to stop is further complicated by costs of securing and staying on a transit site or pitch. Although costs vary greatly between local authority areas, our research found:
- Half of transit sites charge deposits and pitch fees.
- Deposit amounts ranged from £100 to £500, with some authorities charging per caravan or per caravan, per pitch.
- 50% of authorities with provision charged extra fees for the use of utilities.
Throughout the data, there was a lack of clarity and consistency between areas as to their approach and policies on transit provision for Gypsies and Travellers, which raises further questions about the accessibility of information for prospective residents who may be in immediate need of a transit pitch.
Drawing on the responses from local authorities, Abbie Kirkby, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Friends, Families and Travellers, 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 is restrictive, due to 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 Gypsy and Traveller site provision and stopping places.”
ENDS
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Media Contact
Communications Team
Email: comms@gypsy-traveller.org
Additional Resources
Freedom of Information research: Local authority transit provision for Gypsies and Travellers across the UK. Friends, Families and Travellers. November 2024. View.
