A blog to answer some of your questions on traveller sites
After receiving a number of comments and emails on the issue of gypsy and traveller sites I thought I would explain a couple of issues which have come up since the decision was announced yesterday. The first of these is regarding the petition hearings later this month. Before any site is actually firmed up - and it could be as long as 2016 before that happens - we must have two more consultation periods and then, even after all that, our decisions must be ratified by a Government inspector. To say we haven't listened or that we haven't consulted is just not true. In the New Year we will consult again on the two sites we have identified and the outcomes of the petition hearings will be fed into this process. Those petition hearings will not be wasted. They are a very important part of the consultation process and I will be taking them very seriously. Indeed this information is all very clearly stated in the papers following my meeting yesterday and they can be read here:
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5C4DAA9C-EDF4-4A4F-9285-38005DCD0F4A/31588/GypsyandTravellersites.pdf
One of the issues raised following the consultation was that issues at Conesby could have been avoided if the sites were managed with wardens. We have learned our lesson and the council guarantees this will now happen. Travellers will also pay rent at managed sites. I have correspondence from people who have made comments on my blog saying they would support the sites if they were secure. There are comments in todays Telegraph repeating this I see. These were comments made by speedway fans about that specific site and we have taken those comments onboard.
I must repeat that the petition hearings still count in the next wave of consultation. Just because we have earmarked these two sites now does not mean they are guaranteed to become gypsy and traveller sites. I know this issue will not make everyone happy. The people of Brigg, I'm sure, are happy. I can understand other people are not as happy. But Government office tell us we must provide permanent sites. A simple 'not in our backyard' attitude is not helpful at all, we cannot ignore and cast aside a section of the community as some would quite happily do.
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5C4DAA9C-EDF4-4A4F-9285-38005DCD0F4A/31588/GypsyandTravellersites.pdf
One of the issues raised following the consultation was that issues at Conesby could have been avoided if the sites were managed with wardens. We have learned our lesson and the council guarantees this will now happen. Travellers will also pay rent at managed sites. I have correspondence from people who have made comments on my blog saying they would support the sites if they were secure. There are comments in todays Telegraph repeating this I see. These were comments made by speedway fans about that specific site and we have taken those comments onboard.
I must repeat that the petition hearings still count in the next wave of consultation. Just because we have earmarked these two sites now does not mean they are guaranteed to become gypsy and traveller sites. I know this issue will not make everyone happy. The people of Brigg, I'm sure, are happy. I can understand other people are not as happy. But Government office tell us we must provide permanent sites. A simple 'not in our backyard' attitude is not helpful at all, we cannot ignore and cast aside a section of the community as some would quite happily do.
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dawn
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04 November 2008
at
13:19
in regards to the not in our back garden ........ why dont you find a site very close to your back garden mr grant then you can personally keep an eye on them or why not set up a site right next to the police station or council then they can be monitored as they should be a nd not allowed to drive the warden away in weeks as they have been before , this talk about a site with a warden is a load of .... cos it wont last and this has been proven so lets get real and do whats right for the law abiding people of scunthorpe for a change
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