Gypsy and Traveller Sites DPD Issues Consultation

Foreword

Huntingdonshire District Council has a duty to ensure that appropriate accommodation is made available for its Gypsy and Traveller community in accordance with the East of England Regional Plan. It is important that we remember that travelling and living in a caravan is the cultural heritage of that community.  Gypsies and Travellers are often more disadvantaged than other ethnic minority groups in opportunities for access to health care and education.

There are advantages in making adequate provision on sites which are well designed with appropriate facilities. There should be fewer unauthorised encampments and developments, less conflict between the travelling and settled communities and less social exclusion, leading to a greater understanding and respect between communities.

This document is the first in a series of documents which will result in a plan identifying sites to provide residential accommodation for the Gypsy and Traveller community in Huntingdonshire. It will be followed by a further consultation document which will set out a number of potential sites which could be identified as possible allocation sites. In turn, this will be followed by a document which sets out the sites which the Council think best meet the identified need in Huntingdonshire.

As this is a Development Plan Document, the Draft Plan will be subject to an Examination by an independent planning inspector before it is finally adopted in 2010.

The District Council wants all stakeholders, from both the settled community and the Gypsy and Traveller community, to take an active part in this process and so your responses at each stage are important.

Councillor Peter Bucknell
Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport