Gypsy and Traveller Site Consultation

Gypsy and Traveller Corporate Policy Site Assessment Consultation March 2010

Swale Borough Council has consulted on future Gypsy and Traveller site provision within the borough, including site specific proposals made up of existing sites and new proposed sites.

The Aim

The overall aim is to meet the national and regional requirements for Gypsy and Traveller site provision within Swale.

The council consulted on how we have assessed the suitability of sites including the site assessment and our proposed screening process so far and to consult on a series of sites, giving the whole community the opportunity to comment on Gypsy and Traveller future site provision.

The council also consulted on a Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment of the process.

The document also aims to minimise tensions between communities involved in site provision and to ensure the council takes a balanced approach to the needs of the Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community in dealing with issues arising from unauthorised encampments and in bringing forward appropriate Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Dates

The consultation ran from 26 March to 31 May 2010.

Documents and Maps

You can download the relevant documents and maps below:

• Gypsy and Traveller Corporate Policy Site Assessment (Document)
• accompanying Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (Document, size:159kb)

The maps and key that follow show permanent sites within the borough as well as sites included in the consultation:

• Key for Maps (below) (Pdf file format, size:31kb)
• West of Sittingbourne Map (Pdf file format, size:1.06mb)
• East of Sittingbourne Map (Pdf file format, size:1.29mb)
• Isle of Sheppey Map (Pdf file format, 431kb)
• East of Faversham Map (Pdf file format, size 985kb)
• Swale Gypsy and Traveller Sites Map (Pdf file format, size 5.91mb). Please note that this file will take significant time to download if you are on a dial-up internet connection.

Alternatively copies are available at council offices and local libraries.

Briefing Meetings also held

As part of the consultation, some information giving meetings were held within the borough with both the Gypsy and Traveller community and the settled community invited to understand the process the council has gone through and the next steps. The meeting dates occured on;

• Tuesday 6th April (7pm-9pm) - Gatefield Hall, Alexander Centre, Faversham
• Wednesday 7th April (7pm-9pm) - Wyvern Hall, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne
• Thursday 8th April (7pm-9pm) - Eastchurch Village Hall, Isle of Sheppey

The information meetings were not intended to discuss the merits of any individual site proposed.  The purpose of the meeting was to provide parties with sufficient information to enable them to more fully respond to the consultation.