Gypsy and Traveller Awareness Training

Last Thursday we had a session 6.30 pm to 10pm on Gypsy and Traveller Awareness - it included presentations by the leader of Somerset Council and an ex-Council leader plus a couple of gypsies. It was a powerful, all be it a bit long, look at the legal duties around enforcement, planning policies, history, inappropriate incampments, unauthorised developments, prejudice, community support and opposition, options and more.

When I was finishing my postgraduate Social Work course I was fortunate to write my final dissertation on gypsies and travellers and meet quite a number of families. Since then it has long been an issue I have felt needs greater understanding by all - I have just come across a letter I wrote to the press in 2002 here - we've taken away all the sites for people to stop in then persecute when folk stop on what 'we' consider are unsuitable sites....look at Dale Farm in 2011 - it cost an estimated £8m to remove the 80 families many of whom ended up just outside the site - infact many had been there for 10 years and using local schools, medical facilities etc....what craziness when what is needed is money spent instead on sites so people don't need to end up unauthorised.....

I hope here in Stroud we can do better...we have already looked at this issue and it was good to hear lots of positive noises about wanting to get this right. For example the need for small sites with say only 5 pitches and also the possibilities of developing park homes as an alternative for those who would prefer. There are still some key issues that need addressing locally - particularly at one transit site that changed ownership after it was created.....apols but stop this blog here as off to work...

Our expert team will:

• explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement
• cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK
• discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments
• consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)
• look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues
• discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition
• explain funding availability for provision
• explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

Our expert team will:

• explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement
• cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK
• discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments
• consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)
• look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues
• discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition
• explain funding availability for provision
• explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

Our expert team will:

• explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement
• cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK
• discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments
• consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)
• look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues
• discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition
• explain funding availability for provision
• explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

Our expert team will:

• explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement
• cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK
• discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments
• consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)
• look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues
• discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition
• explain funding availability for provision
• explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement

cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK

discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments

consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)

look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues

discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition

explain funding availability for provision

explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement

cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK

discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments

consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)

look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues

discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition

explain funding availability for provision

explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement

cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK

discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments

consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)

look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues

discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition

explain funding availability for provision

explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement

cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK

discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments

consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)

look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues

discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition

explain funding availability for provision

explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf

explain the current Government's position and policies, particularly on planning and enforcement

cover the history of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK

discuss inappropriate encampments and unauthorised developments

consider the issues in light of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Localism Act 2011 and the abolition of the regional spatial strategies (RSS)

look at the cultural, equalities, education and health issues

discuss the highly contentious issue of community opposition

explain funding availability for provision

explore the options available for making provision and explain the financial consequences of both action and inaction.

- See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/environment-and-housing-board/-/journal_content/56/10171/3487883/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE#sthash.OQFsWrN0.dpuf