Shake-up will lead to faster Gypsy evictions
A SHAKE-UP in planning rules will cut the time it takes to evict Gypsies and travellers from unauthorised developments.
Last autumn three Gypsy families were given six months to quit after Plymouth City Council planning committee turned down two retrospective applications to stay on plots on Ridge Road, Plympton.
-
Travellers-set-up-camp-along-Towerfield-Drive,-Woolwell
The council admitted later that appeals against the decision could take up to 12 months.
John Denham, the Communities Secretary, yesterday welcomed new planning rules which will speed up the enforcement process so that quicker action can be taken against developments without planning permission such as unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites.
The new rules will take effect next month, slashing the time that must elapse before local authorities can take action against unauthorised camps, and other developments lacking planning permission.
From April 6, the time allowed to lodge an appeal will be reduced from six months to 28 days.
A council spokeswoman said: “We welcome any appropriate powers to make evictions happen as smoothly as possible as long as they are alongside Government support to establish authorised sites as an alternative.
“We need to resolve the root cause of this problem rather than simply moving the problem around and we need to balance the needs of both the settled community and the Gypsy and Traveller community.”
Mr Denham also urged councils to make full use of powers to deal with and where possible prevent anti-social behaviour associated with Gypsies and Travellers – whether they are the perpetrators or the victims.
New guidance to help communities tackle anti-social behaviour said local councils need to work more closely with other agencies to address anti-social behaviour.
As with all communities only a small minority of Gypsies and Travellers behave anti-socially and their mobile lifestyle can exacerbate this – but perceptions that the community is not dealt with the same as other communities damage public confidence about fair treatment for all, Mr Denham said.
The Government yesterday published guidance for local authorities, the police and other agencies, setting out the strong powers available to them, including Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and injunctions.
The guidance makes clear what action can be taken in policing and prevention, fly-tipping, noise, straying livestock and untaxed vehicles.
Mr Denham said: “Everyone has the right to expect to live in neighbourhoods that are free from anti-social behaviour – whether it is unruly neighbours, aggressive gangs or mindless vandals.
“While much has been achieved there are still communities where such behaviour causes real misery. Everyone has responsibilities and rights and no one should receive preferential treatment.
“Local councils and the police have strong powers and tools to crack down on anti-social behaviour – and I expect them to be used to the full.”
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Anti-social behaviour, which I am determined to tackle, devastates people’s lives and runs down our communities.”
“The Gypsy and Traveller community is treated no differently than the rest of the community. Perpetrators of crime and antisocial behaviour will be punished and, where appropriate, taken through the criminal courts and jailed.”
The publication builds on measures put in place for local councils to provide new authorised sites for Gypsies and Travellers, and tough powers for local authorities to use when dealing with camping on unauthorised land.
John Denham is challenging local councils to use the Government funds available to provide authorised sites which could substantially cut enforcement costs, currently estimated at £18million a year.
However, the Government last month rejected an application from Plymouth City Council to build a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site in Efford.
10 Comments
by Stuart, Plymouth
Friday, March 26 2010, 2:05PM
“lol nah Britainruinedbybroon, sad to say me twenty fifth year is a dim and distant memory, mind you me memories of me twenty first to twenty third year are clear when I worked and lived the a load of travelling tarmacers lol.
That comunity does have issues, no denying it, but if we can print forms and letters in 20 plus languages and house people from all over the world, who came through safe countries to get here, Ithink we can throw down a few tonne of hardstands and put some water pipes in.
I agree with you on the MP's and your sign in name hits the nail on the head.”
by Mick, Barbican
Friday, March 26 2010, 5:46AM
“How many of the anti-gypsy whingers voted Labour? Serves 'em right!
If you want gypsies kicked off sites pronto, vote for the only Party that'll do it, the BNP..:)”
by Britain Ruined by Bliar, Brooon., plymouth
Friday, March 26 2010, 12:25AM
“Stuart, Plymouth. You live in lah lah land. You must be under 25 years old...student ?
The didies, pikeys, tinkers, chavs,
hoodies, drugies, will always lie and steal from you !
Just like MPs.”
by Stuart, Plymouth
Thursday, March 25 2010, 11:15PM
“To be fare the travelling community needs to be seen to want to be a part of the wider dynamic hotchpotch of communities and cultures that makes up the UK today.
Sites should be provided and paid for by the travelling community, a fund should be sought from Europe only to cover this, as the Great British public are fed up with paying out for groups who want "exclusive rights to lifestyle and heritage" without making any visable or long term contributions to the society as a whole, they are the best at looking out for and providing for themselves and most people would be amazed at the hospitality and cleanliness of their own mobile homes, its the environment around that can get a wee bit messy.
Apply for the dosh, build the hard stands put in the showers and access for schools and medical centres, buthave the travelling community involved in its running on a week to week basis.
If you want to see real discrimination listen to a showman talk about a tinker or a diddycoy talk about a new age traveller, the pride, skills , knowledge and sadly dicrimination and intolerance that is in our and all comunities is also in theirs.”
by A the Hun, plymouth
Thursday, March 25 2010, 8:01PM
“The Gypsy and Traveller community is treated no differently than the rest of the community. - so why do they drive untaxed - uninsured vehicles - get instant welfare checks - and never pay a fine ?? It would be truely wonderful if they were treated like mr and mrs middle class england”
by ROBROY, PLYMOUTH
Thursday, March 25 2010, 5:39PM
“Why give them 6 months notice, what's wrong with 24 hours. After that, a tow truck and chain and haul them off.
It must be done before they get the hardstandings down, and connections made to water, gas, and electricity.
Why should councils provide authorised sites for these travellers? Councils don't provide sites for any other members of the public to set up home on!”
by Mick, Barbican
Thursday, March 25 2010, 1:15PM
“Let's see if i've got this straight- the council serve a 6-month eviction notice which means they can still stay there for at least 6 months regardless of whether an appeal is then lodged?”
by David, Crownhill
Thursday, March 25 2010, 12:31PM
“Iain.
I agree wholeheartedly regarding the clean up costs. Collect a substantial deposit from them, after all, they are usually over run with cash what with everything they do being on a cash basis. A refund could then be given, if appropriate, afterwards. As far as the vehicles are concerned I thought that if a vehicle operater was of no fixed address then he or she is legally obliged to carry all of the vehicle's documentation with them. This ought to be a fairly simple process for the police to check. If documentation is not available then the vehicle, and trailer (caravan) should be impounded. The last time I had a problem at work, this was theft of scrap metal, the offending vehicle was a white transit pickup truck caught very nicely on CCTV. Trouble is the registration number belonged to Ford Fiesta from Norwich. The previous occasion a 4x4 pulled up next to a parked LGV, all caught on CCTV, and the driver started to pump diesel from the LGV into two jerry cans. When tackled the driver, who happened to be Irish, said that 'I was running out of fuel'. He then threw the cans, pump and hose into his 4x4 and sped out of the carpark. That registration number did not exist. On both occasions our travelling friends had moved in close by.”
by Iain, Plymouth
Thursday, March 25 2010, 11:45AM
“At last, a step in the right direction. Anything that can shorten the time it takes to remove these parasites is welcome. Can their vehicle registrations also be recorded so that bills for clearing up behind them can actually be delivered. Surely that is not rocket science, or does it infringe their huuman rights ??”
by david, higher compton
Thursday, March 25 2010, 10:22AM
“It is nothing but a pre-election stunt that reverses five years of Labour equality ideology.
Mr Denham has already run a campaign in constituencies where Labour's vote is under threat from the far-right BNP, promising that immigrants will not get first call on council houses etc . That is what this is about .
In 2005 ministers levelled scathing accusations of bigotry at Tories who made similar pre-election promises .”