The South East England Regional Assembly recent consultation on the provision of sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the South East Region over the next 20 years has now closed. The consultation was designed to help identify how many camping spaces should be provided in each Council area across the region, and that this will cut homelessness among Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople and help to reduce unauthorised or illegal camping.
The main issues for comment will cover the proposed number of spaces for sites up to 2016 and how many spaces should go to each local authority area. Current advice is that the south east of England needs 1064 spaces for Gypsies and Travellers plus up to 276 spaces for Travelling Showpeople by 2016.
Now that the the consultation is over, SEERA will determine how many spaces are needed. A further public consultation on the preferred options will then be conducted and subsequently reviewed by independent planning inspectors. The specific location of any new sites will be determined by councils in their emerging local development frameworks.
Further information contact Tim Richings, Forward Planning and Transport Manager, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on (01256) 845318 or email tim.richings@basingstoke.gov.uk