Travelling solutions...

Deborah McGurran
The Politics Show East

1200 new pitches for gypsy caravans in East

The region could have 1,200 new pitches for gypsy caravans, the decision resulting from a review by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA).

It follows new government planning policy to address the current shortage of traveller sites.

The latest figures show that there are more than 4000 travellers' caravans in the East.

Of those, 60% are based on council sites or private sites, but the other 40% are living illegally without permission.

It is the illegal travellers that have caused friction with residents at camps like Denton in Norfolk, Crays Hill in Essex, and Cottenham in Cambridgeshire.

It appears that the need to cater for travellers is increasing.

The number of caravans in Cambridgeshire has doubled in the last 25 years to more than 16,000.

Cambridgeshire County Council estimates an extra 500 caravan pitches are needed by 2010 to meet demand.

Part of the problem dates back to 1994, when legislation took away the need for district councils to make provisions for travellers.

That decision saw the numbers of illegal sites increase significantly.

Then in 2004 the Deputy Prime Minister's Office decided councils must take responsibility for gypsy sites.

Under the new rules, local authorities are responsible for developing plans and deciding on suitable locations for sites in their area but not necessarily for their provision.

The council can run them or the sites can be provided and owned by gypsies and travellers themselves.

EERA has been working with the local authorities across the region to identify the number of pitches in each district.

There will then be a period of public consultation and an Examination in Public before the plans are put before the Government in 2009.

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Join the Politics Show team on Sunday 18 February 2007 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

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