Gypsies and Travellers
The Government places a duty on councils to undertake an accommodation assessment and to make provision for any identified Gypsy and Traveller needs.
East of England Plan Single Issue Review
Government Circular 01/2006 (Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites) places a duty on regional planning bodies to identify Gypsy and Traveller needs across their region and to identify the number of pitches required in each local planning authority.
To meet this requirement the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) commissioned consultants to review Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments undertaken by local planning authorities in the region. This was used to inform a Gypsy and Traveller Key Issues consultation document that was published for consultation in May 2007. It put forward two options for Stevenage: one for 7 pitches and one for 15 pitches in the next 5 years.
The next stage of consultation is due to take place in early 2008 and the whole process will be completed by late 2009. Please visit www.eera.gov.uk to find out more.
A copy of Stevenage Borough Council’s response to the Key Issues consultation document can be downloaded below:
A copy of the joint Northern and Eastern Hertfordshire authorities’ response to the Key Issues consultation document can be downloaded below:
Please note that the forthcoming Stevenage and North Hertfordshire Action Plan – which will be available for public comment in early November – will contain a question that asks about the most appropriate location for new Gypsy and Traveller pitches. We would welcome your views in response to this consultation exercise.