Object
Gypsy and Traveller Site Options
Representation ID: 54172
Received: 29/07/2013
Respondent: Mr Chris Braithwaite
The supporting documentation supplied on the WDC website for 25 sites now with a total of 31 over the 15 year plan period show no statistical evidence to support this number. The numbers quoted would only justify 2 or 3 sites of a maximum of 15 pitches each.
These sites should be managed by WDC to ensure that:
1) Council tax is collected
2) Demographics of residents are monitored regularly to ensure the sites are meeting the needs of the target population identified in the plan.
Without this, peaceful coexistence with the local community cannot be achieved.
The document from the WDC website titled 'Evidence of Local Needs and Historic Demand for Gypsy and Traveller sites in Warwick District' does not show any evidence support the need for 25 sites now and a total of 31 over the 15 plan period. If anything I would say 3 sites limited to 15 pitches would be more than adequate.
The document from the WDC website titled 'Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Needs Assessment: Warwick Final report' is not statistically sound in that the surveys conducted do not contain enough respondents. On these grounds alone it should be rejected.
Interestingly page 22 states that there are estimated to be 33 Gypsy/Traveller families (124 people) living in Warwick District permanently. This does not correlate with the number of sites proposed in the plan. These families could be accommodated on 3 sites of 15 pitches.
If the goal is to have peaceful coexistence with the local population and ensure that council tax is collected then at the very least the WDC need to have managed sites - not private ones.
The plan is targeting 2 groups of people - Gypsy's and Irish Travellers. It makes no mention of travellers from other EU nations and surely it must do so.