Today, Friends Families and Travellers (FFT) have released the findings of a research report which uncovered that only 8 out of 68 local authorities in the South East of England have identified the land needed for Gypsies and Travellers in their area.
In compiling the report, FFT sent Freedom of Information requests to all 68 local planning authorities in the South East asking if they had carried out accommodation needs assessments for Travellers in their area. They also asked each local authority if they had identified a 5 year supply of specific deliverable sites as set out in the Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.
The findings of the research show that the mechanism to ensure more sites for Gypsies and Travellers is not working. This leaves around 3000 Gypsy and Traveller families statutorily homeless and with no place to stop.
Despite the longstanding and chronic shortage of sites and stopping places, the Home Secretary launched a consultation in November 2019 with proposals to make trespass a crime and to strengthen police powers to be used against roadside Travellers. You can respond to the consultation here.
Commenting on the report, Abbie Kirkby, Advice and Policy Manager at Friends Families and Travellers said:
“It beggars belief that the Home Office are calling for more powers to tell Travellers where they can’t go, while local authorities are largely failing to identify any space where Travellers can go. Gypsies and Travellers have a cultural tradition of living in caravans and the right to roam, but it’s hard to travel when there’s nowhere to stop. Everyone needs a place to live.”
Notes for Editor
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works on behalf of all Gypsies, Roma and Travellers regardless of ethnicity, culture or background.
Media Contact
Sami McLaren, Communications Officer
Tel: 01273 234 038 Email: sami@gypsy-traveller.org
Relevant Resources
Friends Families and Travellers. ‘No place to stop: Research on the five year supply of deliverable Gypsy and Traveller sites in the South East of England’. View report.
