The Rt Hon Eric Pickles

Secretary of State

Department for Communities and Local Government

Eland House

Bressenden Place

London

SW1E 5DU

Date: 25^th July 2014

Dear Eric,

I am writing to you about Traveller and Gypsy site provision in the UK. I am extremely concerned that, nationally, there is a large disparity between the need for authorised sites for Travellers and Gypsies, and the levels of provision of authorised sites.

In my opinion, this disparity has arisen from the removal of the statutory duty on local authorities to provide sites for Travellers and Gypsies, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.  

It is clear that the current framework is failing to solve the problem of unauthorised encampments and only provides a short-term solution. It relies solely on the powers of law enforcement to carry out evictions, without addressing the root causes of unauthorised encampments, such as the lack of permanent and temporary sites for Travellers and Gypsies to move to after they have been evicted.

In the South East region there are approximately 43 transit pitches, of which 23 are in Brighton & Hove.  The reintroduction of the statutory duty, would enable local authorities across the region to share the responsibility of provision for permanent Traveller sites, rather than exhausting the resources of singular local authorities.

Additionally, a statutory requirement would enable local authorities to better levy the payments for services and council tax, and strengthen the case for eviction in many instances.

In Brighton & Hove the relationship between Traveller and Gypsy communities and the settled community is made fraught by unauthorised encampments and the difficulties regulating them. I believe that the proper provision of temporary and permanent sites would go a long way towards amending community tensions.

I, therefore, urge the Government to reintroduce the statutory duty for Local Authorities to provide transit and permanent traveller sites, as a means to helping prevent Travellers and Gypsies unauthorised land.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Yours sincerely,