Gypsy & Traveller Sites for Central Bedfordshire North
Welcome to Talk to Central Bedfordshire. The place to view information on the Draft Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document.Introduction
The Government has recently increased the requirement for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Central Bedfordshire North (the former Mid Bedfordshire area) and included the requirement for a possible transit site.
In view of this change, the Council has undertaken a review of the present range of sites together with a further site search in order to meet the increased requirement.
As such, the Council has prepared a set of additional site options for publication, known as the Preferred Sites consultation. This is available to comment for six weeks from Monday 26th April to Monday 7th June 2010
There are documents on this site in PDF format which require Acrobat Reader to be installed on your PC to be viewed. To install the latest version of Acrobat Reader please click the logo and follow the instructions from Adobe carefully.The Government has recently increased the requirement for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Central Bedfordshire North (the former Mid Bedfordshire area) and included the requirement for a possible transit site.
In view of this change, the Council has undertaken a review of the present range of sites together with a further site search in order to meet the increased requirement.
As such, the Council has prepared a set of additional site options for publication, known as the Preferred Sites consultation. This is available to comment for six weeks from Monday 26th April to Monday 7th June 2010
Key Issues:
• The sites allocated through the Gypsy and Traveller DPD are intended to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers who are already part of the community and residing in the district.
• The cost of providing sites can be much less than the cost of taking enforcement action against unauthorised encampments.
• Gypsies and Travellers who live on council or privately-owned sites pay council tax, rent, gas, electricity and other associated charges.
• Allocating sites will help address symptoms of deprivation. Gypsy and Traveller life expectancy is 10 years lower than the national average of the settled community.
• Where proper well-designed sites are provided, research indicates that neighbourly relations develop. Gypsies and Travellers can access local services and make a positive contribution to the community.
• Media reports and images are often inaccurate and discriminatory. In particular, there is no evidence of higher crime rates amongst Gypsies and Travellers.
• The sites allocated through the Gypsy and Traveller DPD are intended to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers who are already part of the community and residing in the district.
• The cost of providing sites can be much less than the cost of taking enforcement action against unauthorised encampments.
• Gypsies and Travellers who live on council or privately-owned sites pay council tax, rent, gas, electricity and other associated charges.
• Allocating sites will help address symptoms of deprivation. Gypsy and Traveller life expectancy is 10 years lower than the national average of the settled community.
• Where proper well-designed sites are provided, research indicates that neighbourly relations develop. Gypsies and Travellers can access local services and make a positive contribution to the community.
• Media reports and images are often inaccurate and discriminatory. In particular, there is no evidence of higher crime rates amongst Gypsies and Travellers.