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Opinion Research Services | The Strand Swansea SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] 1 Cheshire Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment March 2014
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Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected]

1

Cheshire

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople

Accommodation Assessment

March 2014

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Opinion Research Services The Strand, Swansea SA1 1AF

Nigel Moore, Claire Thomas, Katie Amesbury and Matt Bradley

enquiries: 01792 535300 · [email protected] · www.ors.org.uk

© Copyright March 2014

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Contents

Cheshire ........................................................................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 8

The Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 9

Legislation and Guidance for Gypsies and Travellers ......................................................................... 10

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites ..................................................................................................... 11

Tackling Inequalities for Gypsy and Traveller Communities ............................................................... 12

Funding ........................................................................................................................................... 13

Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 13

Stage 1: Background ......................................................................................................................... 14

Stage 2: Household Survey ............................................................................................................... 14

Stage 3: Stakeholder Engagement ..................................................................................................... 14

Stage 4: Future Pitch and Plot Requirements .................................................................................... 14

Stage 5: Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 15

2. Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites and Population .............................................. 16

Sites in Cheshire ............................................................................................................................... 16

Caravan Count ................................................................................................................................. 17

3. Gypsy and Traveller Population ................................................................................................. 19

Survey of the Gypsy and Traveller Population ................................................................................... 19

Length of Residence ......................................................................................................................... 20

Connections with the Area ............................................................................................................... 20

Ethnic Background ........................................................................................................................... 21

Age and Household Profile ............................................................................................................... 21

Employment .................................................................................................................................... 22

Health Problems .............................................................................................................................. 22

4. Existing Sites ............................................................................................................................. 23

Type of Site ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Views of Sites................................................................................................................................... 24

Propensity to Travel ......................................................................................................................... 24

Bricks and Mortar ............................................................................................................................ 26

Moving to a New Permanent Base .................................................................................................... 26

5. Travelling Showpeople .............................................................................................................. 27

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 27

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Travelling Showpeople Households in Cheshire ................................................................................. 27

6. Stakeholder Consultation .......................................................................................................... 28

Cheshire East Council ....................................................................................................................... 30

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................... 30

Community, Health and Education Issues ......................................................................................... 32

Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................... 32

Health.............................................................................................................................................. 32

Education ........................................................................................................................................ 32

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 32

Consultation Activities ..................................................................................................................... 33

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location ........................................... 33

Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................. 33

Cheshire West and Chester Council ................................................................................................... 34

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................... 34

Community, Health and Education Issues ......................................................................................... 36

Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................... 36

Health.............................................................................................................................................. 36

Education ........................................................................................................................................ 37

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 38

Consultation Activities ..................................................................................................................... 38

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location ........................................... 39

Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................. 39

Halton Borough Council .................................................................................................................... 40

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................... 40

Community, Health and Education Issues ......................................................................................... 41

Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................... 41

Health.............................................................................................................................................. 41

Education ........................................................................................................................................ 41

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 42

Consultation Activities ..................................................................................................................... 42

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location ........................................... 42

Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................. 42

Warrington Borough Council ............................................................................................................ 43

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................... 43

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Community, Health and Education Issues ......................................................................................... 44

Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................... 44

Health.............................................................................................................................................. 44

Education ........................................................................................................................................ 44

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 45

Consultation Activities ..................................................................................................................... 45

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location ........................................... 45

Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................. 45

Views of Wider Stakeholders ............................................................................................................ 46

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................... 46

Community, Health and Education Issues ......................................................................................... 47

Community Cohesion ....................................................................................................................... 47

Health.............................................................................................................................................. 47

Education ........................................................................................................................................ 47

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 48

Consultation and Community Engagement ....................................................................................... 48

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location ........................................... 48

Travelling Showpeople ..................................................................................................................... 49

Neighbouring Authorities ................................................................................................................. 52

Main Policy Tools ............................................................................................................................. 52

Accommodation Needs: Site Provision and Unauthorised Encampments ........................................... 52

Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................................................... 54

7. Future Pitch Provision ............................................................................................................... 55

Pitch Provision ................................................................................................................................. 55

Supply of Pitches .............................................................................................................................. 56

Current Need ................................................................................................................................... 56

Future Need ..................................................................................................................................... 56

Current Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision........................................................................................ 57

Additional Pitch Provision: Current Need .......................................................................................... 58

Current Unauthorised Developments ............................................................................................... 58

Concealed Households ..................................................................................................................... 58

Bricks and Mortar ............................................................................................................................ 59

Additional Pitch Provision: Future Need............................................................................................ 60

Temporary Planning Permissions ...................................................................................................... 60

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New Household Formation ............................................................................................................... 61

In-migration from Other Sources ...................................................................................................... 62

Overall Needs for Cheshire ............................................................................................................... 63

Overall Needs for Each Planning Authority ........................................................................................ 64

Cheshire East ................................................................................................................................... 64

Cheshire West and Chester ............................................................................................................... 65

Halton ............................................................................................................................................. 66

Warrington ...................................................................................................................................... 67

Split by Local Authority to 2028 in 5 year Time Period ....................................................................... 68

Transit/Emergency Stopping Site Provision ....................................................................................... 68

Needs for Plots for Travelling Showpeople ........................................................................................ 70

Additional Plot Provision: Current Need ........................................................................................... 71

Current Unauthorised Developments ............................................................................................... 71

Concealed Households ..................................................................................................................... 71

Bricks and Mortar ............................................................................................................................ 72

Additional Plot Provision: Future Need ............................................................................................. 72

Temporary Planning Permissions ...................................................................................................... 72

In-migration from Other Sources ...................................................................................................... 72

New Household Formation ............................................................................................................... 74

Overall Needs for Cheshire for Travelling Showpeople ...................................................................... 75

Overall Needs for Each Planning Authority for Travelling Showpeople ............................................... 76

Cheshire East ................................................................................................................................... 76

Cheshire West and Chester ............................................................................................................... 77

Halton ............................................................................................................................................. 78

Warrington ...................................................................................................................................... 79

Split by Local Authority to 2028 for Travelling Showpeople ............................................................... 79

8. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 80

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 80

Gypsy and Traveller Future Pitch Provision ....................................................................................... 80

Transit Sites ..................................................................................................................................... 80

Travelling Showperson Requirements ............................................................................................... 81

Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 82

Appendix A: Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire (April 2013) .......................................................... 83

Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire East ......................................................................................... 83

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Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire West and Chester .................................................................... 84

Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Halton ................................................................................................... 85

Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Warrington ........................................................................................... 86

Appendix B: Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire (April 2013) .................................................... 87

Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire East ................................................................................... 87

Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire West and Chester .............................................................. 88

Travelling Showpeople Yards in Halton ............................................................................................. 89

Travelling Showpeople Yards in Warrington ...................................................................................... 90

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1. Introduction The Survey

1.1 Opinion Research Services (ORS) was commissioned by the Local Authorities of Cheshire to undertake a

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTTSAA). The authorities

involved in this study are:

» Cheshire West and Chester

» Cheshire East

» Halton

» Warrington.

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1.2 The study seeks to provide an evidence base to enable authorities to comply with their requirements

towards Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople under the Housing Act 2004, the National Planning

Policy Framework 2012 and Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2012. The main objective of this study is to

provide the Local Authorities with robust, defensible and up-to-date evidence about the accommodation

needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the study area during the 15 year period until

2028 in 5 year sections, covering 2013-2018, 2018-2023 and 2023-2028. It seeks to identify whether or not

any of the Local Authorities need to plan for the provision of permanent accommodation as well as transit

sites or emergency stopping places.

1.3 We would note at the outset that the study covers the needs of Gypsies (including English, Scottish, Welsh

and Romany Gypsies), Irish Travellers, New Travellers, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople, but for ease of

reference we have referred to the study as a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation

Assessment.

1.4 This document is the main report and summarises the key findings of the study, in particular where they

relate to existing policies, or have implications for future policy decisions across the study area.

Definitions

1.5 For the purposes of the planning system, Gypsies and Travellers means:

Persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on

grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age

have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members of an organised group of

Travelling Showpeople or circus people travelling together as such. (Planning Policy for Traveller

Sites, Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), March 2012).

1.6 Within the main definition of Gypsies and Travellers, there are a number of main cultural groups which

include:

» Romany Gypsies

» Irish Travellers

» New Travellers.

1.7 Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recognised in law as distinct ethnic groups and are legally

protected from discrimination under the Equalities Act 2010.

1.8 Alongside Gypsies and Travellers, a further group to be considered is Travelling Showpeople. They are

defined as:

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not

travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their family’s or

dependant’s more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased

to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined above.

(Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, CLG, March 2012).

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Legislation and Guidance for Gypsies and Travellers

1.9 Decision-making for policy concerning Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople sits within a complex

legislative and national policy framework and this study must be viewed in the context of this legislation

and guidance. For example, the following pieces of legislation and guidance are relevant when constructing

policies relating to Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople:

» Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2012

» National Planning Policy Framework 2012

» Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments Guidance October 2007

» The Human Rights Act 1998 (when making decisions and welfare assessments)

» The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as subsequently amended)

» Homelessness Legislation and Allocation Policies

» Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

» Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (both as victims and perpetrators of anti-social behaviour)

» Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

» Housing Act 2004 (which requires local housing authorities to assess the accommodation

needs of Gypsies and Travellers and Showpeople as part of their housing needs

assessments. This study complies with this element of government guidance)

» Housing Act 1996 (in respect of homelessness).

1.10 To focus on Gypsies and Travellers, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is particularly important

with regard to the issue of planning for Gypsy and Traveller site provision. This repealed the duty of Local

Authorities from the Caravans Act 1968 to provide appropriate accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers.

However, at this time Circular 1/94 did support maintaining existing sites and stated that appropriate

future site provision should be considered.

1.11 For site provision, the previous Labour Government guidance focused on increasing site provision for

Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople and encouraged Local Authorities to have a more

inclusive approach to Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople within their Housing Needs

Assessment. The Housing Act 2004 Section 225 requires Local Authorities to identify the need for Gypsy

and Traveller sites, alongside the need for other types of housing, when conducting Housing Needs Surveys.

Therefore, all Local Authorities were required to undertake accommodation assessments for Gypsies and

Travellers and Travelling Showpeople either as a separate study such as this one, or as part of their main

Housing Needs Assessment.

1.12 Local Authorities were encouraged rather than compelled to provide new Gypsy and Traveller sites by

central Government. Circular 1/06 ‘Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites’, released by the CLG in

January 2006, replaced Circular 1/94 and suggested that the provision of authorised sites should be

encouraged so that the number of unauthorised sites would be reduced.

1.13 The Coalition Government announced that the previous Government’s guidance contained in Planning for

Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites (Circular 01/06) and Planning for Travelling Showpeople (Circular 04/07)

was to be repealed, along with the Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) which were used to allocate pitch

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provision to Local Authorities. The CLG published ‘Planning Policy for Traveller Sites’ in March 2012 which

set out the Government’s planning policy for Traveller sites. It should be read in conjunction with the

National Planning Policy Framework.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites

1.14 The document ‘Planning Policy for Traveller Sites’, which came into force in March 2012, sets out the

direction of Government policy. Among other objectives, the aims of the new policy in respect of Traveller

sites are (Planning Policy for Traveller Sites Pages 1-2):

» Local planning authorities should make their own assessment of need for the purposes of

planning.

» To ensure that local planning authorities, working collaboratively, develop fair and

effective strategies to meet need through the identification of land for sites.

» To encourage local planning authorities to plan for sites over a reasonable timescale.

» That plan-making and decision-taking should protect Green Belt from inappropriate

development.

» To promote more private Traveller site provision while recognising that there will always

be those Travellers who cannot provide their own sites.

» That plan-making and decision-taking should aim to reduce the number of unauthorised

developments and encampments and make enforcement more effective.

» For local planning authorities to ensure that their Local Plan includes fair, realistic and

inclusive policies.

» To increase the number of Traveller sites in appropriate locations with planning

permission, to address under provision and maintain an appropriate level of supply.

» To reduce tensions between settled and Traveller communities in plan-making and

planning decisions.

» To enable provision of suitable accommodation from which Travellers can access

education, health, welfare and employment infrastructure.

» For local planning authorities to have due regard to the protection of local amenity and

local environment.

1.15 In practice, the document states that (Planning Policy for Traveller Sites Page 3):

Local planning authorities should set pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for

Travelling Showpeople, which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation

needs of Travellers in their area, working collaboratively with neighbouring local planning

authorities.

1.16 In producing their Local Plan local planning authorities should:

» Identify and annually update a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five

years’ worth of sites against their locally set targets.

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» Identify a supply of specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth, for years 6-

10 and, where possible, for years 11-15.

» Consider production of joint development plans that set targets on a cross-authority

basis, to provide more flexibility in identifying sites, particularly if a local planning

authority has special or strict planning constraints across its area (local planning

authorities have a duty to cooperate on planning issues that cross administrative

boundaries).

» Relate the number of pitches or plots to the circumstances of the specific size and

location of the site and the surrounding population’s size and density.

» Protect local amenity and environment.

1.17 A key element to the new policies is a continuation of previous Government policies. Local Authorities now

have a duty to ensure a 5 year land supply to meet the identified needs for Traveller sites. However,

‘Planning Policy for Traveller Sites’ also notes on Pages 3-4 that:

Where there is no identified need, criteria-based policies should be included to provide a basis for

decisions in case applications nevertheless come forward. Criteria-based policies should be fair and

should facilitate the traditional and nomadic life of Travellers, while respecting the interests of the

settled community.

1.18 Therefore, criteria-based planning policies sit at the heart of the new guidance, irrespective of whether

need is identified or not.

Tackling Inequalities for Gypsy and Traveller Communities

1.19 In April 2012 the Government issued a further document relating to Gypsies and Travellers titled ‘Progress

report by the ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers’ (CLG

April 2012).

1.20 The aforementioned report contains 28 commitments to help improve the circumstances and outcomes for

Gypsies and Travellers across a range of areas including:

» Identifying ways of raising educational aspirations and attainment of Gypsy, Roma and

Traveller children.

» Identifying ways to improve health outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers within the

proposed new structures of the NHS.

» Encouraging appropriate site provision; building on £60 million Traveller Pitch Funding

and New Homes Bonus incentives.

» Tackling hate crime against Gypsies and Travellers and improving their interaction with

the criminal justice system.

» Improving knowledge of how Gypsies and Travellers engage with services that provide a

gateway to work opportunities, and working with the financial services industry to

improve access to financial products and services.

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» Sharing good practice in engagement between Gypsies and Travellers and public service

providers.

Funding

1.21 The Coalition Government policies also involve financial incentives for new affordable pitch provision in the

form of the New Homes Bonus. All new pitches on Local Authority or Registered Provider-owned and

managed sites, Local Authorities receive a New Homes Bonus equivalent to Council Tax (based on the

national average for a Band A property), plus an additional £350 per annum for six years. This equates to

around £8,000 pounds per pitch.

1.22 Direct grant funding is also available for Gypsy and Traveller sites. The Homes and Communities Agency

(HCA) took over delivery of the Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant programme from CLG in April 2009. Since

then they have invested £16.3 million in 26 schemes across the country to provide 88 new or additional

pitches and 179 improved pitches. The HCA welcomes bids from Local Authorities, Housing Associations

and Traveller community groups working with Registered Providers.

1.23 The HCA has now confirmed allocations for all of its £60 million of future funding which will support 96

projects around the country for the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller sites and new pitches on existing

sites, as well as the improvement of existing pitches. The table below shows the allocation outside of

London.

Figure 1 HCA Grant Allocations for New Pitches (Source: HCA)

Local Authority Amount of money Number of new pitches

East and South East £6,218,381 91

Midlands £14,126,576 216

North East, Yorkshire and The Humber £15,328,694 375

North West £3,850,763 108

South and South West £16,713,954 309

Total £56,238,368 1,099

1.24 While all HCA funds for Gypsy and Traveller pitches have now been allocated, further funding may become

available as a result of slippage over the course of the programme. Providers are advised to continue to

work closely with HCA area teams to develop their proposals should any funding become available.

Methodology

1.25 This section sets out the methodology we have followed to deliver the outputs for this study. Over the past

10 years ORS has developed a methodology which provides the required outputs from a Gypsy, Traveller

and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment and this has been updated in light of Planning

Policy for Traveller Sites.

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1.26 The stages below provide a summary of the process undertaken by ORS, with more information on each

stage provided in the appropriate section of the report.

Stage 1: Background

1.27 At the outset of the project ORS sought to understand the background to the Gypsy, Traveller and

Travelling Showpeople population in the study area. The study sought to identify the location of all known

sites in the study area and the number of pitches or plots on each one. The study also gathered

information from recent caravan counts provided by each Local Authority, information held on

unauthorised encampments in each area and also from those who have expressed an interest in public

pitches.

Stage 2: Household Survey

1.28 The research methodology for identifying the housing needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling

Showpeople adopted in this report was largely based upon face-to-face interviews with Gypsies, Travellers

and Travelling Showpeople across Cheshire. ORS sought to undertake a census of Gypsy, Traveller and

Travelling Showpeople households in April to June 2013. Interviews were sought with every known Gypsy,

Traveller and Travelling Showpeople household present during this time period and 131 interviews were

achieved in total on Gypsy and Traveller sites, with a further three interviews in bricks and mortar and ten

interviews on Travelling Showperson yards. Though only one member of each household was interviewed,

the survey questions cover other members of the same household. We would note that a single Traveller

household may occupy several caravans.

Stage 3: Stakeholder Engagement

1.29 This study includes extensive stakeholder engagement with Council Officers and Elected Members from the

Local Authorities of Cheshire, neighbouring Local Authorities and other stakeholders. Cheshire has a Gypsy

and Traveller Strategic Partnership across the four Cheshire authorities which has been in existence since

2004, so the authorities have joint working relationships already. The aim of this engagement was to help

understand the current situation in the study area, particularly in relation to households not on known

existing sites, and also to discuss Duty to Cooperate issues with neighbouring Local Authorities, and any

issues regarding education, health and community cohesion.

Stage 4: Future Pitch and Plot Requirements

1.30 The methodology used by ORS to calculate future pitch and plot requirements has been developed over the

past 10 years and has drawn on lessons from both traditional housing needs assessments and also best and

worst practice from Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessments conducted

across the country.

1.31 The overall principles behind assessing future needs are relatively simple. The model assesses the current

backlog of need for pitches based upon unauthorised sites, concealed households and the net movement

of households from bricks and mortar, as well as those on the site preference lists for public sites. It then

adds in future arising need in the form of newly-forming households, households on sites with temporary

planning permissions and net migration to the area. From this figure any empty or undeveloped pitches

with planning permission are then subtracted to provide for a final net pitch requirement. The residential

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and transit pitch requirements for Gypsies and Travellers are identified separately from those for Travelling

Showpeople and for each group the requirements are identified in 5 year periods to 2031.

Stage 5: Conclusions

1.32 This stage draws together the evidence from Stages 1 to 4 to provide an overall summary of the

requirements for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in Cheshire.

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2. Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites and Population Sites in Cheshire

2.1 A Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) focuses upon the number of dwellings required in an area,

and how many of these should each be provided by the public and private sector. The central aim of this

study was to follow a similar format for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation

requirements.

2.2 One of the main considerations of this study is the provision of pitches and sites for Gypsies and Travellers

and Travelling Showpeople. A pitch is an area which is large enough for one household to occupy and

typically contains enough space for one or two caravans, but can vary in size. A site is a collection of

pitches which form a development exclusively for Gypsies and Travellers. For Travelling Showpeople, the

most common descriptions used are a plot for the space occupied by one household and a yard for a

collection of plots which are typically exclusively occupied by Travelling Showpeople. Throughout this study

the main focus is upon how many extra pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and plots for Travelling

Showpeople are required in Cheshire.

2.3 The public and private provision of mainstream housing is also largely mirrored when considering Gypsy

and Traveller accommodation. One common form of a Gypsy and Traveller site is the publicly-provided

residential site, which is provided by the Local Authority or by a Registered Provider (usually a Housing

Association). Pitches on public sites can be obtained through signing up to a site preference list, and the

costs of running the sites are met from the rent paid by the licensees (similar to social housing).

2.4 The alternative to public residential sites is private residential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling

Showpeople. These result from individuals or families buying areas of land and then obtaining planning

permission to live on them. Households can also rent pitches on existing private sites. Therefore, these two

forms of accommodation are the equivalent to private ownership and renting for those who live in bricks

and mortar housing.

2.5 The Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople population also has other forms of sites due to its mobile

nature. Transit sites tend to contain many of the same facilities as a residential site, except that there is a

maximum period of residence which can vary from a few days or weeks to a period of months. The only

transit site in Cheshire is in Halton and it contains separate male, female and disabled shared bathrooms

and has a maximum stay of 13 weeks. An alternative to transit sites is an emergency stopping place. This

type of site also has restrictions on the length of time someone can stay on it, but has much more limited

facilities. Both of these two types of site are designed to accommodate, for a temporary period, Gypsies,

Travellers and Travelling Showpeople whilst they travel. A number of authorities also operate an accepted

encampments policy where short-term stopovers are tolerated without enforcement action.

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2.6 Further considerations for the Gypsy and Traveller population are unauthorised developments and

encampments. Unauthorised developments occur on land which is owned by the Gypsies and Travellers or

with the approval of the land owner, but for which they do not have planning permission to use for

residential purposes. Unauthorised encampments occur on land which is not owned by the Gypsies and

Travellers.

Caravan Count

2.7 A source of information available on the Gypsy and Traveller population derives from a bi-annual survey of

Gypsy and Traveller caravans, required by Government, conducted by each Local Authority in England on a

specific date in January and July of each year, and reported to CLG. This count is of caravans and not

households, which makes it more difficult to interpret for a study such as this because it does not count

pitches or resident households. It must also be remembered that the count is merely a ‘snapshot in time’

conducted by the Local Authority on a specific day, and that any unauthorised encampments which occur

on other dates will not be recorded. Likewise any caravans that are away from authorised sites on the day

of the count will not be included.

2.8 The charts below show the cumulative number of unauthorised and authorised caravans in each Local

Authority area at the time of the counts. Please note that the scale on each chart varies and that the charts

are to be read cumulatively to give the total caravan count. Some data for Warrington are based on

estimates because the count was not undertaken. They do not include any Showpeople caravans in the

area. These are counted separately each January. We would also note the figures are provided for

illustrative purposes to demonstrate the relative size of the populations and are not used in any modelling

of future pitch requirements.

Figure 2 Gypsy Caravan Count for Cheshire East: July 2008– January 2013 (Source: CLG Bi-annual Local Authority Caravan Count)

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

Jul-08 Jul-09 Jul-10 Jul-11 Jul-12

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Unauthorised Authorised

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Figure 3

Gypsy Caravan Count for Cheshire West and Chester: July 2008 – January 2013 (Source: CLG Bi-annual Local Authority Caravan

Count)

Figure 4 Gypsy Caravan Count for Halton: July 2008 – January 2013 (Source: CLG Bi-annual Local Authority Caravan Count)

Figure 5 Gypsy Caravan Count for Warrington: July 2008 – January 2013 (Source: CLG Bi-annual Local Authority Caravan Count)

0

25

50

75

100

125

Jul-08 Jul-09 Jul-10 Jul-11 Jul-12

Nu

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arav

ans

Unauthorised Authorised

0

25

50

75

100

Jul-08 Jul-09 Jul-10 Jul-11 Jul-12

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arav

ans

Unauthorised Authorised

0

10

20

30

40

50

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3. Gypsy and Traveller Population

Survey of the Gypsy and Traveller Population

3.1 One of the major components of this assessment is a detailed survey of the Gypsy and Traveller population

within the Cheshire authorities. This aims to identify current households with housing needs and to assess

likely future household formation from within existing households, to help judge the need for future site

provision. As noted in the introduction, “Gypsy and Traveller” refers to:

Persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on

grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age

have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members of an organised group of

Travelling Showpeople or circus people travelling together as such (Planning Policy for Traveller

Sites, CLG, March 2012).

3.2 Interviews were attempted with every Gypsy and Traveller household in the area who were present during

April to June 2013. Therefore, the base date for the findings of this study is April 2013. Throughout the

survey period, interviewers from ORS worked from 9am to 7pm each day and made repeated visits to each

household until a successful interview was concluded. In total, interviews were achieved on-site with 131

households.

3.3 Throughout this study the person responding to the survey will be referred to as the respondent, and in

questions which refer to all people in the household, they will be referred to as household members.

Throughout the remainder of this report the majority of numbers which appear on the charts represent the

percentage of respondents who appear in that category. The purpose of showing percentages is to allow

the results of the survey to be extrapolated to the whole Gypsy and Traveller population of Cheshire. In a

few cases, it is more appropriate to use the actual number of respondents, and these cases are clearly

identified. In all charts, those respondents who answered ‘don’t know’ or did not answer the question, are

omitted unless otherwise stated.

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Length of Residence

3.4 Though more than half (53%) of those

interviewed had lived on their current site

for 5 years or more, a significant minority

(30%) had been residing at their current

site for less than 1 year. The vast majority

(88.5%) described their current site as their

permanent base, with only 15 respondents

(11.5%) saying otherwise. Of these, only

two respondents had permanent bases

elsewhere (both outside of the study area).

The remaining 13 had no permanent base,

and while in many cases this appeared to

be due to choice, six respondents stated

they were on site because they had

nowhere else to go.

Connections with the Area

3.5 Respondents noted a variety of different connections to their local areas (see Figure 7), with the main

links identified being that their family (57.3%) or friends (47.3%) were from the area, or that they had

lived in the area for a long time (49.6%). The survey did not seek to identity what the population

considered to be a long time.

Figure 7 Nature of Local Connections in Cheshire, by all Respondents (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

3.1%

12.2%

14.5%

14.5%

16.0%

19.8%

29.8%

47.3%

49.6%

57.3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Own land in this area

Grew up in the area

Have a tradition of travelling to/through this area

Family members receive care/support from Council/other local services

Children go to school here

Always lived in this area

Family members work here

Friends are from this area

Lived here a long time

Family are from this area

Figure 6 Length of Time Respondents Have Lived on Their Current Site, by all Respondents (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

Less than a week

2%

1 week but less than 1

month 8%

1 month but less than 6

months 11%

6 months but less than 1

year 9%

1 year but less than 3

years 11%

3 years but less than 5

years 6%

5 years or more 53%

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Figure 8 Ethnic Group by all Respondents (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

Romany Gypsy 45.4%

Irish Traveller

15.4%

Scottish Gypsy or Traveller

0.8%

New Traveller

0.8%

English Traveller

36.2%

Welsh Gypsy 0.8% Other

0.8%

Ethnic Background

3.6 Amongst those surveyed, the largest ethnic group

was Romany Gypsies, with 45.4% identified

themselves as such. A further 36.2% identified

themselves as English Travellers, which is frequently

used as an alternative to Romany Gypsy, and 15.4%

as Irish Travellers.

Age and Household Profile

3.7 The households showed a mixed range of ages across their members, very much in line with the results

of similar studies carried out by ORS elsewhere. Nearly 42% of household members were aged 16 or

under, with nearly a quarter being of school age (i.e. between 5 and 16 years old). 9.6% of household

members were aged 60 or more. However, it is typical for Gypsy and Traveller studies to record

relatively few males aged 18-60 years, many of who travel on an almost permanent basis. This is the

case in Cheshire and in practice, the share of children in the total population is almost certainly lower,

so less than 40% of the population will be children.

Figure 9 Age of Household Members, by all Household Members (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

0-4 years 17.0%

5-11 years 13.9%

12-16 years 10.6%

17-24 years 11.3%

25-39 years 19.2%

40-59 years 18.5%

60 years and over 9.6%

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3.8 Only three respondents reported more than one household on their pitch. Of these, two respondents

reported they were sharing their pitch with one other household, while one respondent reported they

were sharing with two other households. 124 respondents (95%) reported just one household residing

at their pitch.

Employment

3.9 Respondents were asked to give the employment status of all members of their household aged 16 or

over. Of those household members who had their employment status recorded, the largest group

(37.8%) were looking after their home and/or family. 28.3% were in some form of employment (though

only 15.2% working in a permanent job), while 7.8% were registered unemployed and 15.7% retired.

3.10 Amongst those working, a wide variety of jobs were reported, with the most common being

gardening/landscaping/tree surgery (27 respondents) and building work (eight respondents).

Health Problems

3.11 Over a third (34.4%) of respondents interviewed reported that their household contained at least one

member with a long-term health problem. Of these, nearly three quarters (73.3%) said that their

current pitch was able to meet the needs of those with long-term health problems. However, 26.7% (12

respondents) said that their existing pitch was not meeting the needs of those with health issues.

Figure 10 Employment Status of Household Members, by All Household Members Aged Over 16 Years (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

Working in a permanent job

15.2%

Undertaking casual/temporary work

12.2%

Undertaking seasonal work 0.9%

Registered unemployed 7.8% Retired

15.7%

Long-term sick/disabled 4.8%

Looking after home/family

37.8%

Full-time carer 0.9%

Student/full-time education

4.3%

Other 0.4%

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4. Existing Sites Type of Site

4.1 86% of interviews were carried out on authorised

sites, with 62% on private sites, 20% on Council

sites and 4% on transit sites. Only 12% of

interviews were carried out on unauthorised sites.

4.2 All respondents were asked if they required any

additional caravans at their current pitch. Only

4.6% (six respondents) indicated that they would

like additional residential caravans within their

existing household. Most of these respondents

stating that the additional caravans were for the

use of older children.

4.3 When asked how many additional caravans were

required, two respondents said they needed just

one additional caravan, one respondent needed

two caravans, another respondent said they

needed four caravans and two respondents said

they needed five or more. However, only two of

the six respondents felt that there was space for

additional caravans on their current pitch.

4.4 The phrasing of this question focused on a need rather than a demand for more caravans. Respondents

were asked, irrespective of who was purchasing the caravans, whether they needed more caravans for

household members. Therefore, this question simply reflected a perceived need for more caravans, rather

than an ability to afford (demand for) more caravans.

4.5 Only one respondent said that a member of their household would like to leave to live elsewhere in the

next two years, while four households on the transit site in Halton wished to move on to a permanent

pitch.

Figure 11 Type of Pitch, by all Respondents (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

Owner-occupied

pitch 22%

Privately- rented pitch

40%

Authorised public site (Council)

20%

Unauthor-ised

develop-ment

9%

Unauthor-ised

encamp-ment

3%

Transit site 4%

Other type of site

2%

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Figure 12 Time Spent Travelling in a Caravan or Trailer Away From Your Permanent Base in the Last 12 Months, by Respondents Who Took at Least One Trip in the Last 12 Months (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

Less than 1 month 53.3%

1 month but less than 3

months 21.7%

3 months but less than 6

months 3.3%

6 months but less than 12 months 10.0%

Travelled all year round

11.7%

Views of Sites

4.6 All respondents were asked if their current site was meeting their need in terms of accommodation quality,

space, site facilities, location and management. Only 14.5% (19 respondents) felt that their site was not

meeting their needs.

4.7 The most common reasons given by respondents for their site not meeting their needs were: a lack of

facilities (11 respondents), a lack of play areas for children and being too far from services (both five

respondents). Other reasons included not enough space for visiting caravans (two respondents) and a lack

of safety on site (two respondents).

4.8 When asked what facilities they felt were needed at their sites, eight respondents felt that their sites

needed permanent toilet facilities, and four felt their sites needed amenity blocks for washing and cooking

or improvements to existing blocks. Interestingly, one respondent on the Runcorn transit site in Halton

wanted additional education support.

4.9 15 of the 19 respondents whose current site/pitch was not meeting their needs felt that their needs could

be met at their existing pitch. Many of these households were either on the transit site in Halton or an

unauthorised site in Ellesmere Port, so there is little indication of problems on permanent sites. However,

four respondents wanted to move to another site.

Propensity to Travel

4.10 52.7% of those surveyed (69 respondents)

reported that they had not travelled at all

during the last 12 months, and of those who

had travelled, more than half (53.3%) had

travelled less than a month. Only 11.7% of

those who had travelled in the last 12 months

had travelled all year round (see Figure 12).

4.11 Of those who had travelled in the past, but not

in the last 12 months, 75.8% (25 respondents)

reported that the change in their travelling

habits was due to a desire for a more settled

lifestyle, 39.4% (13 respondents) reported that

they had stopped travelling so their children

could receive education and 33.3% (11

respondents) said it was due to the ill health of

family members. Other reasons given for not

travelling were increasing difficulties with camping at the roadside (30.3%, 10 respondents) and the old age

of some family members (18.2%, six respondents).

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Figure 13 Reasons for Not Travelling in the Last 12 Months (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

4.12 Amongst those respondents who had travelled, the main reasons given for travelling were: for a holiday

(55.8%), for fairs (51.2%) and for family reasons (20.9%). (See Figure 14 below).

Figure 14 Reasons for Travelling (Source: Survey of Gypsy and Traveller Population On-site 2013)

18.2%

30.3%

33.3%

39.4%

75.8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Due to old age of some family members

No longer easy to camp on the side of the road when travelling

Due to ill-health of some family members

So children can receive education

Want a more settled lifestyle

4.7%

4.7%

9.3%

20.9%

51.2%

55.8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Church Missions

Have nowhere else to go

For work

Family reasons

Fairs

For a holiday

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Bricks and Mortar

4.13 Only 5.3% (seven respondents) reported that they had previously lived in bricks and mortar

accommodation (i.e. a house, bungalow or flat). Of these, more than half (four respondents) had lived in

such accommodation 10 years ago or longer.

4.14 Amongst the reasons given for leaving bricks and mortar accommodation were: marriage, being

uncomfortable in bricks and mortar housing, and moving away from parents.

Moving to a New Permanent Base

4.15 5.3% (seven respondents) indicated that they would want or need to move to a new permanent base,

either now or in the next 15 years. Three of these respondents indicated that their main reason for wanting

a new permanent base was to live a more settled lifestyle.

4.16 These respondents were asked to state where they would like to establish a new permanent base.

Respondents were given the opportunity to pick as many areas as they liked, and many chose more than

one area. Only one respondent expressed an interest in moving outside of the study are (i.e. Wrexham).

Otherwise, the areas that respondents were interested in living in were as follows: five respondents wished

to live in Runcorn and three in Widnes; Warrington North and Ellesmere Port both had two respondents;

while one respondent wished to live in Warrington South.

4.17 All but one of the above respondents stated that that their main reason for moving to the specified

location(s) was to be near family and/or friends (though one of these respondents also stated that they

were already registered with schools and a GP in the area). The remaining respondent wanted to move in

order to be able to take advantage of “better facilities”.

4.18 When asked what criteria they felt was important in determining the location(s) of new sites, two

respondents specifically identified proximity to facilities (such as GPs and shops), while one respondent felt

that any new sites should be located away from undesirable locations, such as Council waste facilities.

Additional responses referred to a desire to be away from other populations (one respondent), and another

respondent stated that they did not mind where sites are “as long as it is permanent”.

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5. Travelling Showpeople Introduction

5.1 This section focuses on the needs and aspirations of Showpeople in Cheshire. As noted in the introduction,

Travelling Showpeople are not a recognised ethnic group under the Equalities Act 2010, but within Planning

Policy for Traveller Sites 2012 they are defined as:

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or

not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their family’s

or dependant’s more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have

ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined

above (Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, CLG, March 2012).

Travelling Showpeople Households in Cheshire

5.2 The population of Travelling Showpeople is typically smaller than that of Gypsies and Travellers and

planning records also tend to be more disparate. Working with the respective authorities in Cheshire, with

input from the Travelling Showpeople themselves, ORS was able to identify that there are the following

number of Showpeople yards in the study area with their number of plots:

» Cheshire East – two yards

» Cheshire West and Chester – one yard

» Halton – no yards

» Warrington – one yard with permanent permission and one unauthorised yard.

5.3 Therefore in total the study area contains five Travelling Showpeople yards.

5.4 During the course of the household survey with Gypsies and Travellers interviews were attempted with all

Showpeople households in the area. Contact was made with the residents of all known Travelling

Showperson sites.

5.5 In total, 10 interviews were carried out with Travelling Showpeople. Given the limited number of full

interviews undertaken with Travelling Showpeople and also the less structured information gained from

site visits, we have chosen not to provide detailed statistics on the population. However, we would note

that all respondents apart from one were satisfied with their current sites and did not wish to move. The

only respondent reporting any issues felt that access to the site was difficult and that they wished to move

to a larger yard. This respondent was a resident on an unauthorised yard and so would have appeared as a

need in calculations even if they did not want to move.

5.6 However, ORS would note that a number of other Travelling Showpeople, who currently do not live in

Cheshire, have expressed interested in living in Cheshire and these are documented in the next section.

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6. Stakeholder Consultation Introduction

6.1 In order to provide thoughtful consideration of the issues by a wide range of stakeholders involved with

Gypsies and Travellers, ORS conducted 59 semi-structured interviews between May and July 2013.

6.2 A list of stakeholders was compiled by the lead authorities at the outset of the project. ORS reviewed this

list for consistency with other studies to ensure it was comprehensive and fair. Each stakeholder received

an email outlining the aims and objectives of the project and the interview timetable, which was followed

up with a telephone call to arrange a suitable time to undertake the interview. The interviews were

conducted via telephone and typically lasted between 30 and 90 minutes.

6.3 Stakeholders included Council Officers, Council Partners (Health, Education and Police) and Elected

Members representing the following areas:

» Cheshire East Council (11 Council Officers, 2 Elected Members)

» Cheshire West and Chester Council (13 Council Officers, 1 Elected Member, 1 Registered

Provider)

» Halton Borough Council (5 Council Officers, 0 Elected Members)

» Warrington Borough Council (6 Council Officers, 1 Elected Member, 1 Council Partner).

6.4 Wider stakeholders were also interviewed and included Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice and

Homespace; Irish Community Care Merseyside; a property developer; and a planning agent. ORS also

invited the Gypsy Council to contribute to the study. Unfortunately, the Gypsy Council declined to take part

in a telephone interview.

6.5 In order to ascertain the views of Travelling Showpeople, ORS promoted and facilitated a forum in

Knutsford on 3 May 20131. ORS advertised the Forum in the World Fair publication and invited Travelling

Showpeople in the North West to come and talk about their accommodation needs. The Forum was well

attended with around 30-40 Travelling Showpeople contributing to the discussion. ORS also met with the

North West representative of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, interviewed five Travelling Showmen

and received a further 10 questionnaires from Travelling Showpeople, all 15 currently live outside of the

Cheshire area.

1 A representative of the North West section of the Showmen’s Guild advised ORS on the appropriateness of the date

and venue which was chosen because of the Bank Holiday fair in Knutsford. The advert also gave Travelling Showpeople who could not attend the forum, the opportunity to contact ORS via email or telephone.

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6.6 As stated in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, Local Authorities have a Duty to Cooperate (S.110

Localism Act 2011) on strategic planning issues that cross administrative boundaries. In order to explore

cross-boundary issues, officers from the following six neighbouring Local Authorities took part in the study:

» Flintshire County Council

» Liverpool City Council

» Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

» St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

» Wirral Borough Council

» Wrexham County Borough Council.

6.7 Themes covered in the interviews included: the need for additional accommodation provision and facilities;

travelling patterns; the availability of land; accessing services; and work being done to meet the needs of

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

6.8 Interviews allowed interested parties to reflect and feedback on the general situation, as well as how

matters relating to Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople are currently handled and perceived

within the study and surrounding areas. Qualitative research of this type attempts to gain a deeper

understanding of the issues and is used to supplement the statistical information gathered through

quantitative surveys of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities.

6.9 Importantly, the stakeholder consultation provides an opportunity for the Research Team to speak to

stakeholders who are likely to be in contact with housed Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, with

the aim of including those in the study and identifying accommodation needs resulting from this group.

Stakeholders likely to have these contacts are: representative and community groups, Elected Members

and housing providers.

6.10 At the time of interview all stakeholders were asked if they would be happy to get in touch with this group

on ORS’ behalf. For those who agreed to do this they were provided with an information sheet which

explained the objectives of the study; the importance of their contribution to the study; confidentiality; and

a free phone number they could use to get in touch with the ORS team. Of the 59 interviewed, four

stakeholders (which included a community group) agreed to distribute the information sheet on ORS’

behalf. ORS also attempted to make contact with housed Travellers via an advert on the Facebook page of

Friends, Families and Travellers and in the Travellers Times publication. Unfortunately, no bricks and mortar

contacts were obtained as a result of both efforts.

6.11 The following section is broken down by area and summarises the overall findings from the interviews with

stakeholders. Stakeholders had a lot of common ground but also diverged in considering a wide range of

issues that are reported fully below.

6.12 Due to issues surrounding data protection, and in order to protect the anonymity of those who took part,

this section is a summary of the views expressed by interviewees and few verbatim comments have been

used.

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Cheshire East Council

6.13 The findings from this study will form part of the evidence base used to develop the forthcoming Local Plan,

which is required to include an updated need target. The new Plan will also look to review the current

criteria-based policies, which are based on strategies used prior to Local Government reorganisation in

2009 in the previous districts of Congleton Borough, Crewe and Nantwich Borough and Macclesfield

Borough Councils, to make them more effective in delivering suitable sites.

6.14 Cheshire East has provided eight of the 37-54 additional pitches required by 2016 identified in the 2007

GTAA. Therefore, most stakeholders assumed there to be an undersupply of pitch provision.

6.15 The Council’s approach to past planning applications is viewed to be fair insofar as there is reportedly a

split between those granted permission on the basis of their merits and those that went through an appeals

process.

Accommodation

6.16 Despite not meeting the targets set out in the 2007 GTAA, Council Officers and Elected Members felt that

the current provision of sites in the district is largely sufficient and were of the view that some sites were

under-occupied. However, one officer made the case that despite having a sufficient amount of

accommodation, unsuitable sites were still being granted permission on the basis of the 2007 figures. They

referred to the example of two sites, which were deemed not to be suitable under planning guidance, but

have been granted temporary permission on the grounds that the previous GTAA requirement has not

been met.

6.17 The majority of officers believed that calculating need has become confused due to the following factors:

» A number of Traveller sites are now chalet-type mobile home parks. At one site this

change of use has been undertaken regardless of Council advice to wait until the needs

assessment has been completed. However, it was reported that the site changed

occupancy because there was a lack of demand from the Traveller community.

» In order to gain park home permission, some Gypsy and Travellers are claiming they are

not from the community.

» Others who are clearly not Travellers are claiming they are.

6.18 Officers were aware of drainage issues on one private site.

6.19 There is said to be a large number of housed Travellers in the Middlewich area who have made the decision

to buy a bricks and mortar property but still own a caravan, which they park outside of the house. This

practice is said to be widespread and resulted in the formation of an internet pressure group of non-

Travellers that opposed this practice. Reacting to community tensions, the Council obtained a legal ruling

which found that no planning permission was required to keep a caravan within the boundary of a house,

when the caravan was ancillary to the use of the dwelling.

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6.20 Unauthorised encampments are an issue during July, August and September and regularly occur in the

Middlewich, Sandbach and, more recently, Macclesfield area and specifically occur in the following

locations:

» Alderly Edge by-pass

» Barn Road, Congleton (public highway)

» Congleton Road (playing fields)

» Poaching Way, Middlewich

» Earl Road, Stanley Green, Handforth (old aeroplane storage plane depot with hard-

standing).

6.21 At the time of interview, a Council Partner revealed that they had dealt with 13 encampments ranging from

one to sixteen days and from one to fifteen vehicles. Council Officers referred to around 30 encampments

per annum.

6.22 Cheshire East is seen as a popular stopping place due to the following factors:

» En route to Appleby

» Financial opportunities in the area (building work and drive ways)

» Access to the M6 (access to Yorkshire and Cumbria)

» The A556 to Manchester

» Proximity to Wales.

6.23 In addition, because of the connectedness with local Travellers, Council Officers referred to movement

between Winsford, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich and Congleton. One officer was of the view that those who

have used transit provision in the neighbouring areas will travel through the Cheshire East area.

6.24 Interviewees described the levels of encampments as costly, time-consuming and disruptive for local

businesses and the settled communities. Without a transit site, the Council currently uses possession

proceedings in respect of unauthorised encampments on highways and Council-owned land. Travellers will

then be presented with a notice to quit and given 24-48 hours to vacate the land. Some are said to stay

around five days.

6.25 Council Officers and Elected Members strongly supported the provision of a transit site that is separate

from residential facilities and is Council-run and owned where Travellers could rent a pitch. One officer was

of the opinion that although some transit provision could be provided on some of the larger sites (as they

do in some cases), this could be problematic insofar as some may not want to go onto a site owned by

another Traveller community. Stakeholders believed that a transit site could allow for better management

of unauthorised encampments by the Council and Police, and would help settle community tensions that

arise when unauthorised encampments occur. One officer stressed that even if it is rarely used, it would

still act as a deterrent and reduce the number of encampments.

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Community, Health and Education Issues

Community Cohesion

6.26 Community cohesion issues were reported by some Council Officers who felt that perceptions held by the

settled community were negative and adversely affecting the relationship with the Travelling community.

Perceptions are based on two main assumptions:

» Travellers can get planning permission in the Green Belt

» Travellers do not follow the rule of law (e.g. Car Tax).

6.27 Community development work to challenge these assumptions has been undertaken by the Council and

Police, and stakeholders feel their efforts have decreased tensions somewhat. An officer explained that

future community tensions could be reduced by developing properly managed sites on the periphery of the

settled community rather than in remote areas.

6.28 A small number of stakeholders mentioned cohesion issues which occur within the Traveller community

and referred to violent incidents which erupt as a result of family feuds.

Health

6.29 Stakeholders regarded Travellers’ health needs as a pressing issue and explained that many will have health

conditions that require regular hospital/GP appointments. However, as is the case around the UK,

Travellers will tend to opt for Accident and Emergency as opposed to GP services. This means they fail to

access important vaccinations and preventative medicine.

6.30 Officers stressed that sites should be in close proximity to health facilities and should make use of health

visitors.

Education

6.31 Few stakeholders mentioned specific issues relating to education but some felt that attendance continues

to be an issue and many Travellers are still dropping out of education beyond primary school. Outreach

work is thought to be required and officers referred positively to the use of a camper van which was used

to promote registering for pre-school. This was thought to be an effective engagement tool. Unfortunately,

and similar to the situation elsewhere in the UK, Cheshire East has disbanded the Traveller Education Role.

Cross Boundary Issues

6.32 Transit provision is viewed as a key cross boundary issue and the majority of stakeholders felt that Cheshire

East needs to develop an approach to transit which is in line with neighbouring authorities.

6.33 Officers revealed a different opinion on the extent of cross boundary working, with some feeling that

reasonable attempts have been made to work with their neighbours and referred to the Corporate Working

Group in Cheshire East, and links with the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison officer in Cheshire West. Others were

less positive and felt more should be done including expanding the role of the Traveller Liaison Officer to

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cover the study area. Although one pointed out that the Liaison Officer is already overstretched considering

the geographical extent of their workload.

6.34 One Council Officer suggested that an encampment team should be put in place to deal with encampments

across the wider area, which would ensure a consistent approach.

Consultation Activities

6.35 The majority of stakeholders stressed the importance of community engagement in preventing the ‘us and

them’ scenario which is said to exist between the Traveller and settled communities. It is argued that more

needs to be done to create a better understanding of Traveller communities and also how sites can be

integrated with the settled community.

6.36 Consultation with the Travelling community on future site provision was considered a priority.

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location

6.37 In terms of transit site provision, a number of stakeholders referred positively to the site at the Runcorn

transit site in Halton and supported replicating the model.

6.38 In terms of the future provision of a permanent site, those interviewed suggested respecting the following

factors:

» The site should be located in a central location with access to major transport links but

not too close to motorway junctions.

» A distance away from residential properties (to avoid community tensions).

» Running water, toilet facilities and waste disposal should be provided on the site.

» 15-20 pitches (however, best practice guidance suggests a lower figure of 10-15 pitches).

6.39 In terms of the future provision of permanent sites, those interviewed suggested they should be:

» Similar to mobile home sites and should be available to all communities (more acceptable

to the settled community as they are less likely to perceive the Travelling community to

be receiving special treatment).

» Managed by a registered/specialist provider.

» Small and distributed around the area (easier to manage and integrate with the settled

community).

Conclusions and Recommendations

6.40 From the interviews, a number of conclusions and recommendations are presented below:

» There appears to have been a drop in the demand and supply of sites since the previous

GTAA and current provision is perceived to be largely sufficient.

» There has been a surge in park homes developments.

» There is support for a transit site which replicates the model in Halton.

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» A progressive positive campaign promoting the lifestyle and culture of Gypsies and

Travellers may help tackle the negative stereotypes held by the settled community.

» Education around the benefits of accessing preventative medical care (GPs) could help

towards reducing the reliance on Accident and Emergencies and improve uptake of

vaccinations.

Cheshire West and Chester Council

6.41 Similarly to Cheshire East, this work will form the basis of a cohesive Local Plan which will include an

updated need figure.

6.42 The Council has spent the past three years trying to bring forward Council-owned sites to meet the

accommodation need identified in the previous GTAA. The result has been achieving permission for two

sites: one in Winsford (18 pitches) and the other in Ellesmere Port (12 pitches), 30 pitches in total.

6.43 The Council currently does not have an official waiting list. However, an allocations policy is currently in

development and the intention is to give priority to:

» Those who will be displaced when their temporary permission runs out.

» Current residents at the ‘accepted encampment’ at Ellesmere Port.

Accommodation

6.44 Based on the following, it was generally agreed that there is a shortage of suitable accommodation:

» The need identified in the previous GTAA has not been met.

» There are a number of inappropriate sites on the green belt with temporary permission.

» The existence of an ‘accepted encampment’ at Ellesmere Port.

6.45 The ‘accepted encampment’ was put in place to accommodate a number of families who had moved

around Ellesmere Port for a number of years. In 2008 the Council opened up a disused lorry park with

enough space for six single pitches and one double pitch and the amount of unauthorised encampments

reduced. Currently, the residents sign up to a ‘good neighbour code’ which outlines the rules of the

encampment and Travellers responsibilities.

6.46 In managing the site, the Liaison Team:

» Visit the site 2-3 times per day

» Speak with families to check changes in vehicles (if anyone has moved on/off)

» Sign them up with GPs, dentists and schools.

6.47 Officers felt the ‘accepted encampment’ is an example of the Council’s positive approach to meeting

Traveller needs in the short-term but supported the removal of the ‘accepted encampment’ as they did not

regard it as permanent accommodation.

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6.48 Positively, Council Officers and Elected Members felt that authorised sites in the Borough are meeting the

needs of the residents and did not refer to any issues such as overcrowding. One officer did report that

although they were not overcrowded, some sites fail to comply with the six metre fire safety rule.

6.49 The majority of stakeholders strongly support the provision of the two public sites and referred to the

evidence collated in the previous GTAA which, through consultation with the Travelling community,

concluded that the community required and desired affordable public provision.

6.50 However, interviewees expressed their concern and frustration that Travellers have since said they want

private not public sites. Yet the number of sites currently within the Green Belt suggests that they cannot

afford to buy land that would give them legitimate and permanent provision. Therefore, affordable public

provision continues to be the best fit option.

6.51 The existence of a large number of private sites was a concern to a number of officers who reported that

they have been refused access to some of those sites by the owners, and felt that children on these sites

could be missing out on valuable support services including education. For this reason, stakeholders

involved in delivering educational outcomes supported accommodation which is publically-owned.

6.52 Although Cheshire West and Chester no longer manages housing stock, the Gypsy and Traveller Team

keeps in touch with housed Travellers through Registered Providers and housing support bodies.

Communication is considered vital in providing support to Travellers who are not on sites and is also crucial

in preventing issues including:

» Dual Tenancies – when Travellers live in a house or caravan and sub-let the

accommodation they are registered to other Travellers.

» Abandonment of private rented properties – Travellers have been known to abandon

properties and leave signals (windows open) for other Travellers who will then occupy the

properties.

6.53 Despite the presence of the ‘accepted encampment’ the numbers of unauthorised encampments are said

to be increasing and regularly occur in the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Winsford areas and specifically in

the following locations:

» Bumpers Lane (near Chester football stadium)

» Supermarket and business car parks

» Sealand Road Estate

» Blue Planet Aquarium (Ellesmere Port).

6.54 Cheshire West and Chester is seen as an historic, well-travelled area and remains a popular stopping place

due to the following factors:

» En route to Appleby and Ireland to the North West.

» Links to the large number of housed Travellers in Ellesmere Port who have links with

Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.

» Proximity to: A55; M6 (up to Yorkshire and Cumbria); A56 (from Chester down to

Middlewich and Winsford); M56 (Warrington and Manchester).

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» Proximity to North Wales, specifically the Queensferry site in Flintshire, the Ruthin Road

site in Wrexham and sites in Oswestry.

6.55 Similar to the position in Cheshire East, due to the connectedness with local Travellers, officers referred to

movement between Winsford, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich and Congleton. One officer was of the view that

because neighbouring areas have transit provision, once they are moved off the sites they will travel

through the Cheshire West and Chester area. For instance, some Travellers are said to yo-yo between the

‘accepted encampment’ and the Halton site. The size of the encampments varies between 8 and 12

vehicles.

6.56 On the basis of the regular occurrence of encampments, the majority of Council Officers and Elected

Members were of the opinion that the area would benefit from transit facilities that were separate from

residential facilities. Stakeholders argued that a transit site would allow for better management of

unauthorised encampments by the Council and Police, and would help settle community tensions that arise

when unauthorised encampments occur.

Community, Health and Education Issues

Community Cohesion

6.57 Stakeholders were aware of the following community cohesion issues:

» Tension stemming from areas where there are a number of private sites within the Green

Belt that do not have planning permission and sites which have temporary permission or

are unauthorised. This is particularly the case in Elton.

» In Ellesmere Port, where the ‘accepted encampment’ is located, the community tension is

considered to be particularly deep-rooted and stakeholders referred to the case of the

death of a fifteen year old Irish Traveller in 2003.

» Existing community tensions have been exploited by two local newspapers whose

coverage of issues relating to Travellers is perceived to be consistently negative.

6.58 Most stakeholders believed that cohesion improves once a site has settled in. Stakeholders highlighted a

number of initiatives which have improved cohesion:

» Awareness raising and training sessions with Elected Members

» Work on hate crime

» Commission for Racial Equality educational project

» Various projects within schools.

6.59 Stakeholders supported the role of the Gypsy and Traveller Team and felt they have played an important

role in addressing some of the tensions that existed within the area.

Health

6.60 Stakeholders regarded Travellers’ health needs as a pressing issue and explained that many will have health

conditions that require regular hospital/GP appointments, yet they will opt for using the Accident and

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Emergency service as opposed to the GP. This means the immunisation rates continue to be lower than the

average population figure and they do not access preventative medicine. Many Travellers are also

registered with GPs that are based in Wrexham. The Gypsy and Traveller Team has been able to address

this issue through helping Travellers fill out the GP registration forms.

6.61 The Gypsy and Traveller Team has also set up women’s health groups and has facilitated a number of

health awareness sessions, which have been presented by health professionals from maternity, cancer,

smoking, diet and sexual health. The Team is working towards establishing an adult reading and writing

course and using a health van to target those not accessing services, with the aim of increasing

immunisation.

6.62 Mental health is viewed as a particular issue, along with lifestyle choices including diet, drinking, smoking

and the health risks associated with living at the side of the road.

6.63 Nine women from the community attended a health day for women which was recently organised by the

Gypsy and Traveller Team.

Education

6.64 The Gypsy and Traveller community is recognised as a vulnerable group within the wellbeing section of the

Children and Young People Service. Overall, it is recognised that their attainment remains poor nationally

and within the Authority. To address this recognised under achievement, the Authority employs a Gypsy

Roma Traveller Education Advisor whose role includes:

» Working with schools to raise awareness of Traveller culture and lifestyle. In conjunction

with Chester University, the Team has developed a play which is delivered to schools

(upper primary school aged children) in the area. ‘Michael’s Story’ deals with negative

Traveller stereotypes. From the feedback received, children are learning about the

Traveller culture and are finding it interesting. It has also given Travellers the opportunity

to join in, talk about and feel proud of their culture. The play has since been developed to

suit an adult audience and was presented to Council Members and Local Authority staff in

the summer of 2013.

» Working with Traveller families within (and moving to) the area who need help with:

obtaining school places, appealing for transport and filling in forms for a school place (pre-

school, primary or secondary).

» Tracking and monitoring the progress of children in primary school (not secondary school

due to small amount of pupils).

» Facilitating a Traveller School Forum which meets at half-term.

6.65 A particular issue the Team has recently started to focus on is the progress of sixty home-schooled children.

The Team is trying to find out what, if any, educational activities have taken place and importantly are

trying to encourage parents to consider secondary education. On some occasions, this is said to have been

met with resistance as some parents can become aggressive and agitated when discussing school places.

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Cross Boundary Issues

6.66 An officer referred to the Cheshire Gypsy and Traveller Partnership, which aids cross boundary working and

ensures there is consistency across the area. It was argued, however, that this Partnership could be

developed further if each Local Authority put in the same resource, as currently they do not.

6.67 Stakeholders praised the efforts of the Gypsy and Traveller Team in communicating with neighbouring

areas, including Wrexham and Flintshire. Positively, the Team set up and manage the Gypsy and Traveller

Liaison Officer Group, which covers all of Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. It is also a member of the

Merseyside Forum. This is an opportunity to discuss travelling patterns and identify particular families who

are travelling back and forth between areas. This wider strategic approach was considered critical and

enables greater planning based upon knowledge on wider Traveller movements. For instance, a popular

Traveller route is said to exist between Cheshire West and Wrexham. The Team will also contact

neighbouring authorities as and when encampments arise to find out about the families and any needs

they need to be aware of.

6.68 Overall, stakeholders felt it common sense to work with neighbouring areas and recommended that the

results of this GTAA are shared with neighbouring areas to demonstrate they are working together.

6.69 Considering the aforementioned cross boundary movements, some stakeholders supported the provision

of a transit site which serves the Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Warrington areas and others supported

joint transit provision with Flintshire. However, stakeholders expressed frustration that this is unworkable

because Police powers under the Criminal Justice Act state that provision for transit has to be made within

administrative boundaries. Therefore, if the site was located in Cheshire West and Travellers were in

Warrington, the Police would not be able to use their powers to move them to the transit site.

Consultation Activities

6.70 Consultation activities are mostly undertaken by the Gypsy and Traveller Team which works closely with

Travellers in the area and visits the site at Ellesmere Port on a regular basis. The community engagement

work undertaken by the Gypsy and Traveller Team was viewed as exceptional. The Gypsy and Traveller

Team has consulted Travellers on what they would like to see on the site, how many pitches and how they

would like to be managed.

6.71 The Team also has regular contact with representative community groups, including Cheshire Gypsy and

Travellers Voice and Irish Community Care Merseyside which, until recently, facilitated a weekly drop-in

session for Gypsies and Travellers. It was with some disappointment that this drop-in will no longer run as it

was considered important in communicating with the Traveller community.

6.72 The majority of stakeholders stressed the importance of further community engagement work, particularly

around the development of the proposed sites. It has already been suggested that this involves a steering

group which includes local businesses, coupled with a communication and awareness raising plan.

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Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location

6.73 In terms of the management of the two proposed sites, there is a view that they will be Council-run in the

first 18 months until a best approach is reached. It was argued that there is currently not a great deal of

interest amongst general housing providers in this area.

6.74 A number of stakeholders were of the view that the proposed sites should be run by the Council in much

the same way as the accepted encampment. The site should have running water, toilet facilities, waste

disposal and, as suggested by Travellers who have used the transit site in Halton, an amenities block for

washing and drying clothes.

Conclusions and Recommendations

6.75 From the interviews, a number of conclusions and recommendations are presented below:

» The two sites will meet the needs of Travellers who require access to affordable housing.

» There is support for closing the ‘accepted encampment’.

» There is support for a transit site.

» A progressive positive campaign promoting the lifestyle and culture of Gypsies and

Travellers may help tackle the negative stereotypes held by the settled community.

» Education around the benefits of accessing preventative medical care (GPs) could help

towards reducing the reliance on Accident and Emergencies and improve uptake of

vaccinations.

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Halton Borough Council

6.76 There are 25 permanent pitches on social sites (Council-owned). At the Riverview Residential Caravan Park

in Widnes, there are 23 pitches and a further two permanent pitches (occupied by the site warden)

together with 12 transit pitches at the Warrington Road transit site in Runcorn. The Riverview site in

Widnes was refurbished in 2004 (planning reference: 04/01146/HBCFUL). The Warrington Road transit site

opened in 2009 (planning reference: 07/00924/HBCFUL).

6.77 The remaining provision of permanent pitches is found at two private sites at Windmill Street, Runcorn and

on Warrington Road, Runcorn. Neither of these private sites has a specific Gypsy and Traveller planning

consent nor are the number of pitches/caravans specified. There is a further site with temporary planning

permission for six caravans (expiring in November 2014) at a site in Daresbury, Runcorn. However, we

would note that the Windmill Street site has no recorded occupancy since 2010.

6.78 A new site containing 12 permanent pitches is proposed (planning application reference

13/00267/HBCFUL) and will be fully functional by 2014. Once the site is nearing completion, an advertising

campaign will be undertaken.

6.79 Currently there is no formal waiting list. However, there is a clear structure and guidelines on housing need

and pitch allocation. If a pitch becomes vacant on the Council site, the warden and Travellers are made

aware.

Accommodation

6.80 Overall, of those interviewed, most felt there is a shortage of permanent accommodation for Travellers and

felt that further pitches are required. One officer stressed the importance of looking at the age structure of

the community and was of the opinion that there are a considerable number of young people on the sites

who will be looking to have their own families and pitches.

6.81 A number of stakeholders referred to the rising number of housed Travellers but argued that this is not

necessarily motivated by the desire to live in bricks and mortar and more so because they want to stay in

Halton where there is currently no available site provision. Tenancy support is available to housed

Travellers.

6.82 For the following reasons, Halton is considered to be a popular stopping place:

» Employment opportunities in the area (landscape gardening and rubbish removal)

» A large existing settled Traveller population

» Major route North - South

» Proximity to Liverpool and Holyhead

» Proximity to: M62 (up to Yorkshire and Cumbria); M56 (also known as the North Cheshire

motorway and runs towards Manchester) and M57 (Liverpool outer-ring road).

6.83 Officers gave the following reasons why they felt the transit site has helped to reduce the number of

encampments:

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» Travellers requiring a transit pitch will contact the service in advance and not camp

illegally.

» Police will use Section 62a to direct Travellers to the transit site. If they do not want to

move to the site then they will have to move out of the area and cannot return for a

further three months (according to the legislation).

» Travellers who do not want to use a transit site will camp in an area without a site

(Warrington).

6.84 During the winter months, the transit site is reportedly full with ‘regulars’ who stay at the site for three

months, move on and return after three months. Travellers are said to want to use the site because of the

availability of water, toilets and heat (particularly during the winter months) as well as the ability to tap into

services such as health, welfare and education.

6.85 Despite numbers of encampments decreasing, they still occur in the Blackheath Lane area.

6.86 A Council Officer believed that although the Council site could be considered large, it has been successfully

managed for over 11 years. The transit site requires intensive management.

Community, Health and Education Issues

Community Cohesion

6.87 According to Officers, because of the hard work of the Gypsy Traveller Liaison Officer and the Police, there

are few community tensions. When issues do arise, they are dealt with through liaison work with the

community. Nonetheless, improving community cohesion is considered to be an on-going issue.

Health

6.88 All residents on permanent sites are thought to be registered with the local GP and dental surgery and have

good links with the health centre. Health services are also provided on site at the ‘community cabin’ and

the warden also helps bridge the gap between residents and health services, which has proved particularly

successful when promoting inoculations.

Education

6.89 Children on both permanent and transit sites are assigned a school place by the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison

Officer and are then supported by an Education Welfare Officer who will visit the site twice weekly. The

Officer is accompanied by a youth worker who will encourage youngsters to participate in leisure activities

and ensure they are engaging in activities in the wider community. On the Council sites, an after-school

club takes place most weeks.

6.90 Similarly, to experience around the UK, Traveller children drop out of education once they reach secondary

school age.

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Cross Boundary Issues

6.91 Officers reflected positively on the joint working which takes place within Cheshire and the links with

Merseyside. The work of the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer, particularly information sharing, was

praised and felt to be critical to maintaining a partnership approach to managing Traveller issues. Halton is

considered central to the Cheshire and Merseyside groups and it was argued that more discussions need to

take place around trends, demands, future pressures and how Local Authorities can assist each other.

6.92 Officers supported the development of a centralised approach across the region, which they felt would

create a better system of communication and a more consistent approach so Travellers are treated the

same wherever they travel.

6.93 The lack of provision in Warrington (permanent and transit) is said to have a knock-on effect on Halton and

it is believed that if Warrington provided a transit site, it would reduce the numbers of unauthorised

encampments in both areas and would benefit Travellers, who would be able to move between the two

sites on a three monthly basis, instead of camping illegally. One officer was aware of discussions with

Warrington about the possibility of shared transit services, including site management.

Consultation Activities

6.94 Regular consultation is said to take place by the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Group where the wardens of

the site meet with members of the Gypsy and Traveller community.

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location

6.95 When asked to consider site criteria, officers made the following suggestions:

» Access to major transport links but not too close to motorway junctions

» Proximity to schools, health services and shopping facilities

» Runcorn is considered to be a good location for further permanent provision (there is

already a settled Traveller community)

» Site wardens to provide a point of contact for the residents.

Conclusions and Recommendations

6.96 From the interviews, a number of conclusions and recommendations are presented below:

» There is a shortage of permanent accommodation.

» The transit site has reduced the number of unauthorised encampments.

» The work of the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer and the Police has helped towards

building a cohesive community. Nonetheless, improving community relations and a

progressive positive campaign promoting the lifestyle and culture of Gypsies and

Travellers may help tackle the negative stereotypes held by the settled community.

» Having a ‘community cabin’ and a warden on site has helped Travellers access health

services and allowed consultation with site residents to take place.

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Warrington Borough Council

6.97 The 2006 Unitary Development Plan (UDP) contains a site-specific criteria-based policy. The Council is now

at the examination stage of the Local Plan Core Strategy. The emerging Local Plan Core Strategy was

described as being more proactive. It sets out specific pitch and plot numbers and commits the Council to

prepare a subsequent Local Plan to allocate land to meet those numbers, and provides criteria to guide the

allocation process and respond to any applications that are made.

6.98 The emerging Local Plan Core Strategy commits to finding the 56 pitches identified in the North West

partial review, which is viewed to be a robust and comprehensive study. The outcome of this GTAA is

considered to be a validation of the numbers already known to the Council but in addition will provide a

guide to the phasing of need and planning around the immediate need.

6.99 The Council has allocated £2 million pounds from the Capital Budget to deliver a transit site. A specific Task

and Finish Group, made up of senior local politicians representing the main local political parties, has been

set up to oversee delivery of this site.

Accommodation

6.100 There are a large number of sites with temporary permission and some sites are thought to be

overcrowded. It was estimated that granting permanent permission on existing temporary sites could meet

the need for 16 pitches, although these are in the Green Belt.

6.101 A number of stakeholders referred to housed Travellers but argued that they are housed out of choice

rather than necessity, although in some instances as a result of domestic violence.

6.102 The number of unauthorised encampments is high and in most years reaches at least 50. Encampments

regularly occur in in the following locations:

» Admirals Road (Birchwood, East Warrington)

» Gemini Retail Park (Gemini, West Warrington)

» Omega Boulevard (Lingley Mere, West Warrington)

» Silver Lane (Birchwood/Risley, East Warrington)

» Winwick Quay (Central Warrington).

6.103 Warrington is considered to be a popular stopping place due to the following factors:

» En route to Appleby and Ireland to the North West

» Proximity to Manchester and Liverpool

» Unique position at the hub of the North West regions motorway network

» Proximity to: M62 (up to Yorkshire and Cumbria); M6 (the motorway has major junctions

with the M56 and M62 at Warrington, giving access to Chester, Manchester and

Liverpool) and the M65 (the motorway is in Lancashire and runs just south of Preston

through the major junction of the M6 and M61 motorways).

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6.104 Stakeholders were also of the view that, because Halton has a transit site and Cheshire West and Chester

has an ‘accepted encampment’, once Travellers are moved off the sites they will camp in Warrington.

6.105 The majority of encampments will require a court order, private bailiffs and clean-up costs. The size of the

encampments is said to have reached 25 caravans in some instances. Only two encampments have

occurred in Halton and only for the duration of a few hours. On this basis, a transit site would allow for

better management and reduce the numbers of unauthorised encampments and would also help settle

community tensions that arise when unauthorised encampments occur. There was support for a transit site

that is separate from residential facilities and is Council-owned and managed. Most felt that Warrington

should seek advice from Halton on transit site provision and look to develop a site based on their model.

6.106 One officer stressed the point that even if rarely used, a transit site would still act as a deterrent to

unauthorised encampments.

Community, Health and Education Issues

Community Cohesion

6.107 Although stakeholders reported some community tensions, most felt that once sites are established

community tensions will subside.

6.108 Awareness raising and training sessions with Elected Members and schools were supported and one officer

reflected positively on training that has been delivered by two senior members from south Somerset and

by Gypsies and Travellers.

6.109 It was felt that having a dedicated Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer would benefit the area and would

improve community cohesion insofar as they can act as a link between the two communities.

Health

6.110 Many Travellers have health conditions that require regular hospital/GP appointments and the elderly

population tend to have complex health issues as well as restricted mobility and arthritis. Therefore,

improving access to primary care is considered to be a key priority.

6.111 Although access to GPs is said to have improved, there was support for cultural awareness training for GPs

and surgery staff.

6.112 Funding for a health visitor to dedicate one day per week to meeting the needs of all Travellers on

permanent sites, and on the roadside, is said to have helped improve the communication between the

Travelling community, health bodies and the Council.

Education

6.113 Children on sites are supported by an Education Welfare Officer. Similar to other areas of the UK, there is

an on-going problem with children not attending secondary schools. Interestingly, and not reported in

other areas, it appears that attendance sometimes depends upon the type of site, for instance, in larger

sites attendance at school can be influenced by peer pressure within the site rather than by an individual

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family’s preferences. Some sites, particularly public sites, are also more cooperative with the Education

Authority than others. It was argued that having a Local Authority site would make it easier for officials to

target children’s education.

Cross Boundary Issues

6.114 It was accepted the lack of provision in Warrington moves Travellers into other neighbouring areas.

6.115 The lack of a Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer is said to hamper the ability to work with neighbours, as

there is a lack of a lead to take this forward. One officer commented that the Cheshire Partnership Gypsy

and Traveller Coordinator is extremely helpful but stressed that the role covers such a large area that the

time given to Warrington is less than required. Currently the role is paid for by all three authorities.

Warrington and Cheshire East pay for one day each and Cheshire West and Chester pay for the remaining

three days.

6.116 An Elected Member urged Social Services departments, Education and Health to link up with neighbouring

authorities.

Consultation Activities

6.117 There was support for the employment of a Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer who can lead regular

consultation and communicate with the community as currently, this is thought to be insufficient.

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location

6.118 When asked to consider what criteria are important for locating any future sites, officers considered access

to major transport links to be essential but not too close to motorway junctions.

6.119 Much discussion focused on the future provision of a transit site and it was felt that because occupants of

this type of site would be there on a temporary basis, it would be more appealing to local residents if the

site is located away from the settled community.

Conclusions and Recommendations

6.120 From the interviews, a number of conclusions and recommendations are presented below:

» The Council should seek to resolve the future of the 16 pitches with temporary

permission.

» The number of unauthorised encampments is high and in most years reaches at least 50;

there is much support for a transit site.

» Although much work has already been done to improve community cohesion, a

progressive positive campaign promoting the lifestyle and culture of Gypsies and

Travellers may help tackle the negative stereotypes held by the settled community.

» It was felt that having a dedicated Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer would benefit the

area and would improve community cohesion insofar as they can act as a link between

the two communities.

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» Education around the benefits of accessing preventative medical care (GPs) could help

towards reducing the reliance on Accident and Emergencies and improve uptake of

vaccinations.

Views of Wider Stakeholders

6.121 Representatives of the community and representative groups were critical of the progress made across

Cheshire in meeting the required need identified in the previous GTAA, although Cheshire West and

Chester Council is considered to have been more proactive in meeting its targets.

Accommodation

6.122 Of the three wider stakeholders, two were of the opinion that the required number of pitches to meet

current need is considerable and based their assumptions on the following points:

» There is doubling-up of pitches and overcrowding on many of the private sites (of which

councils are apparently unaware).

» A large number of unauthorised sites (of which councils are apparently unaware).

» A large number of sites which have temporary planning permission.

» Housed Travellers who would prefer site accommodation (one stakeholder knew of

around 15 housed Travellers in the Winsford area but did not provide any further

contacts).

6.123 When referring to housed Travellers, stakeholders noted that some had chosen bricks and mortar

accommodation because they:

» Want their children to access education

» Desire a more settled way of life

» No longer want to travel.

6.124 Stakeholders suggested that the Local Authorities take the following actions to improve Traveller

accommodation:

» Provide additional social provision

» Source appropriate land for private sites

» Introduce better regulation of private sites including fire and safety hazards and families

being overcharged for electricity.

6.125 The other wider stakeholder from a planning background, presented a very different view. They explained

that, based on experience of planning applications, as more and more Travellers opt to live in bricks and

mortar accommodation, the demand for site provision is in decline. The stakeholder gave two examples to

illustrate this point:

» A Traveller site owner who has recently changed its use to a park homes site.

» Travellers who have moved into bricks and mortar, two miles away from a site which had

vacant pitches.

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6.126 Nonetheless, the stakeholder argued that demand could still increase as families grow and as new families

move into the area and want their own sites, rather than move onto existing sites.

6.127 Although Gypsies and Travellers are said to be travelling less, stakeholders called upon the Local Authorities

to make provision for members of the community who continue to travel. When asked their views on

managing encampments, one stakeholder preferred a policy of toleration and opposed the provision of a

formal transit site on the grounds that:

» The initial development and running costs are high

» It is not cost effective when empty

» There is a risk it will turn into a permanent site

» There is a risk that Police will have the power to forcibly move Traveller families 30-40

miles away.

6.128 Alternatively, another stakeholder supported a transit site for the western side of Cheshire and felt it would

be welcomed by those Travellers who move around and through Wigan, Liverpool, Sefton and Cheshire.

Community, Health and Education Issues

Community Cohesion

6.129 Prejudice towards the Traveller community was of concern to wider stakeholders, who explained that many

Travellers continue to be judged and stereotyped and are reluctant to identify themselves as members of

the Travelling community.

6.130 Thinking about ways to improve community cohesion, one wider stakeholder felt that community cohesion

could be improved by employing local tradespersons to build Traveller sites.

6.131 One stakeholder felt strongly that when providing community activities and groups, it is important to invite

community members from both the settled and Traveller communities, and gave the example of a youth

club in the area which is attended by children from both communities.

Health

6.132 Access to health services was thought to be hindered by the lack of a mailing address on the majority of

sites in the area.

6.133 One stakeholder expressed concern that there has been little attempt by the councils to engage with the

community on health issues, and was not aware of any funding that is addressing health needs within the

community, despite data showing large numbers of people with coronary vascular disease, cancer, diabetes

and mental health issues.

Education

6.134 There is said to be a number of children within the community who have attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder (ADHD) and other underlying educational needs including dyslexia. A stakeholder supported the

following actions:

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» Encourage children to stay in secondary education

» Offer vocational qualifications (e.g. hair and beauty) - look at examples in Liverpool

» Mandatory cultural training for headteachers

» Provide literature about Travellers in every school not just schools where Travellers

attend.

Cross Boundary Issues

6.135 Stakeholders were critical of the progress made in surrounding areas in meeting accommodation needs, in

particular, North Wales and Lancashire.

6.136 Developing cross boundary channels of communication was strongly felt by stakeholders who argued that

there are links between Cheshire families and families in surrounding areas (Wolverhampton and Stoke)

and it was suggested that the findings of this GTAA be shared with neighbouring authorities.

Consultation and Community Engagement

6.137 Wider stakeholders referred to the following bodies who engage with the Travelling community:

» Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice is funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council and

holds a weekly drop-in session in Winsford, which is open twice a week.

» Irish Community Care Merseyside is funded by the Irish Government, Liverpool City

Council and Wirral Borough Council but held a drop-in session half a day per week at the

Council offices in Ellesmere Port. However, the session could not be sustained due to a

lack of funding and ceased in April 2013. It continues to hold drop-in sessions in the Wirral

and Liverpool and Travellers from Ellesmere Port attend this session.

6.138 Drop-in sessions are supported by stakeholders who believe that Travellers are more comfortable speaking

with members of their own community. Other benefits of drop-in sessions include:

» The provision of a ‘care of address’ ─ service users sign up and have one monthly contact

and mail will be held for people.

» Support Services ─ maximisation of benefits including filling in forms, advising on

entitlements and accompanying on interviews.

» Multi-agency working ─ the Ellesmere Port drop-in sessions were co-located with the

Housing Team and the Gypsy and Traveller Team.

6.139 One stakeholder was of the view that Councils across the study area do not consult or engage with the

community in a timely and effective manner and suggested that more effective consultation, particularly on

the development of sites, with the settled and Traveller communities would reduce community tensions.

Future Site Provision: Criteria, Management and Geographical Location

6.140 When asked to consider what criteria are important for locating any future sites, one stakeholder referred

to the Ellesmere Port families who apparently strongly oppose the provision of a site which is managed by

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Travellers and explained that when members of the community manage sites, it often leads to an

inequitable management system because family loyalties will take precedence over any other factor.

Registered Providers, because of their housing management expertise, were considered best placed to

manage sites.

Travelling Showpeople

6.141 In order to ascertain the views of Travelling Showpeople, ORS recruited and facilitated a Forum in Knutsford

on 3 May 20132. ORS advertised the Forum in the World Fair publication and invited members of the

community in the North West area to come and talk about their accommodation needs. The Forum was

well-attended with around 30-40 participants contributing to the discussion. ORS also met with the North

West representative of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain.

6.142 Overall, the group was of the view that there is a large number of Travelling Showpeople in the North West

who require a permanent residence, particularly as sites in Bolton and Manchester are thought to be full.

Participants felt strongly that all Local Authorities should set land aside for sites. Travelling Showpeople also

had a lengthy discussion surrounding the definition of need; they explained that many members of the

community have been forced to move out of an area because of a lack of accommodation, yet their need or

want to return to the area is classed as an aspiration, even when they have business links with an area.

Many Travelling Showpeople relayed past and present examples of buying seemingly suitable land and

having their planning application turned down across the North West area.

6.143 Participants had the following concerns:

» It is considered a gamble buying land ─ “none of us want a place for free, we just want to

be sure that if we buy something, we can actually live there”.

» Finding land that will fulfil the established site criteria is impossible.

» Local Authorities use a list of excuses not to grant planning permission to Travelling

Showpeople.

» Without a permanent address it is difficult to access healthcare and ensure children

receive consistent education.

» District by district surveys are not robust enough – there is a national shortage of

accommodation for Travelling Showpeople, therefore addressing need should be a joined-

up national or regional response.

» Travelling Showpeople are covered by the same planning policy as Gypsies and Travellers,

yet they are very different communities with different accommodation needs.

6.144 Participants suggested the following solutions:

» Local Authorities should set aside land for Travelling Showpeople.

2 The date and venue was recommended by the representative of the North West section of the Showmen’s Guild

who felt that Travelling Showpeople from the North West would be in the area because of the Bank Holiday fair in Knutsford. The advert also gave Travelling Showpeople, who could not attend the Forum, the opportunity to contact ORS via email or telephone.

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» Site criteria should reflect what Travelling Showpeople actually want and, on that basis,

sites do not need to be close to shops, schools, facilities and the local community.

» Allow residential sites near their area of business – to cut down the travel costs.

6.145 As a result of the Forum at Knutsford and the advertisement in the World’s Fair publication, ORS was

contacted by six Travelling Showpeople, representing larger groups, who are interested in or have

purchased land across the Cheshire area. Their circumstances are documented in Chapter 7.

6.146 Officers and wider stakeholders within each of the study areas also gave an assessment of needs of

Travelling Showpeople in their respective areas as documented below:

Cheshire East Council

» Officers reported that there are two Travelling Showpeople sites in the area and that they

are not aware of any current or forthcoming planning applications. One officer was of the

opinion that provision for Traveling Showpeople is not adequate.

» One officer felt that Travelling Showpeople needed to be more involved with the planning

authority before they purchase land and advised that they should approach their local

planning authority for pre-application guidance about issues and constraints, and should

seek advice on suitable locations. A small fee will be charged for this service depending on

the volume of work the planning authority will be required to do.

Cheshire West and Chester Council

» Cheshire, particularly Winsford, is considered to be a popular historical base for

Showpeople. Showmen are responsible for many events in Winsford, as there are said to

be no alternative leisure provision such as cinemas or bowling alleys.

» Officers reported a site on Council-owned land which is leased to a Showperson family

and currently has capacity for 12 pitches. An Elected Member viewed this to be a stop gap

for families who lost their plots in Northwich.

» It was strongly felt by both Council Officers and Elected Members that there is currently a

chronic shortage of provision for Traveling Showpeople. They consider the required need

for 10 plots identified in 2007 be a conservative estimate. An Elected Member called for

the provision of 20 plots over the next 15 years.

Halton Borough Council

» Officers were not aware of any Travelling Showpeople sites in the area and felt that there

was little demand for provision in the area. When Travelling Showpeople pass through the

area, they have not taken up the offer of space on the transit site.

Warrington Borough Council

» Officers reported two Travelling Showpeople sites. One site is well established, the other,

however, located near the town centre, was not considered an appropriate site by

stakeholders owing to overcrowding and the lack of appropriate facilities including

washing and access to clean running water. Positively, the Council has secured a capital

budget of around £440,000 to find an alternative site to accommodate the families.

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» An officer was of the view that the Council is not inundated with planning applications or

enquiries from Showmen but referred to enquiries from Travelling Showpeople based in

the Greater Manchester area. It was suggested that Travelling Showpeople approach the

Council prior to purchasing land to receive advice.

» The emerging Local Plan Core Strategy is committed to finding an additional 15 plots for

Showmen. It was assumed that this would meet the need – and more.

6.147 Interestingly, ORS spoke to an established property developer who owns a piece of land in Warrington and

is looking to provide affordable homes for Showmen, enough for 30 homes (which was previously a park

homes site). It is proposed that the site would contain homes that have central heating, double glazing and

be landscaped to include driveways and individual garden areas. The site will not provide space for storage

of equipment and will potentially be ideal accommodation for retired Showmen or those without

equipment. Indeed, it was reported that a Showman on an unauthorised site in the area has already been

offered a place on the site, should it go ahead. The property developer and family would also live on the

site and would play an active role in managing the site.

6.148 The developer was critical of the planning process and, in particular, felt it to be unjust that even when

developing the aforementioned site, it still has to be classed as a site for Showmen, even though no

equipment would be stored there.

6.149 It was argued that developing the site would not be at the expense of Warrington Council and would be

distinct from anything else provided around the country.

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Neighbouring Authorities

6.150 As stated in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, Local Authorities have a duty to cooperate on planning

issues that cross administrative boundaries. Therefore, as part of the stakeholder consultation, ORS

conducted seven interviews with officers representing the following neighbouring authorities:

» Flintshire County Council

» Liverpool City Council

» Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

» St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

» Wirral Borough Council

» Wrexham County Borough Council.

6.151 Manchester City Council was also contacted, but was not able to provide anyone who felt that they could

be interviewed for the study.

Main Policy Tools

6.152 Stakeholders from neighbouring authorities referenced a number of local and national policies and

guidance in relation to Gypsy and Traveller issues, including the National Planning Policy Framework and

the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, various Local Plans (which included site allocations Development Plan

Documents [DPDs] and criteria-based policies which, in most cases, were still under preparation), although

Sefton and Flintshire Councils both reported not currently having a stand-alone Gypsy and Traveller Policy.

Accommodation Needs: Site Provision and Unauthorised Encampments

6.153 The accommodation situations of the authorities surrounding the study areas (as reported by their

respective stakeholders) is summarised below:

Flintshire County Council

» There are currently five authorised sites for Gypsies and Travellers in Flintshire. There is

one Local Authority-owned site at Queensferry which has 20 pitches and is currently

managed by the Gypsy community in partnership with the Council. The Council is

currently exploring the extension of the Riverside site onto underutilised land in its

ownership adjacent to the current site. (This site has the potential to provide up to 20

residential pitches).

» There are four privately-owned sites that have planning consent. These are two long-

standing sites at Sandycroft which have a capacity of 22 pitches and a site at Gwespyr

which has a capacity of 20 pitches. There are also two smaller private sites in Flintshire

which have been the subject of recent planning applications and subsequent appeals.

These sites are at Dollar Park, Greenfield, where a temporary permission exists up to

2016. The second recent private site is at Gwern Lane, Hope, where a permanent consent

was granted on appeal in May 2011 for four caravans.

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» Flintshire has been part of the North Wales GTAA (counties of Conwy, Denbighshire,

Gwynedd and Ynys Môn). The study found there to be a shortfall of 62 pitches up to 2016,

36 of which were required in Flintshire. Annually, there are around 55 encampments in

the North Wales area. The study recommended the provision of three or four transit sites

in the study area, each with capacity for up to seven caravans. Within North Wales,

Flintshire and Wrexham currently provide 95% of the legal sites.

» As a result of the North Wales GTAA findings, the county is looking to provide 15-17 more

pitches in the next 5 years.

» There are a large number of unauthorised encampments per annum, typically around 40-

46. Some are 2-3 days duration while others can last for 2-3 months; these usually occur

on commercial or industrial estates. Interestingly, the representative noted that there has

been a recent decrease in the amount of unauthorised encampments. Nonetheless, the

County are looking to provide a local authority-run transit site and expand their

community liaison resource.

Liverpool City Council

» Liverpool has one Local Authority-owned site which has 14 pitches. There are no private

sites in the area. Apparently there are a number of housed Travellers in the area who

would prefer site accommodation and there is an active waiting list.

» Since 2007, a number of Travellers have moved into bricks and mortar or have moved out

of the area and, as a result, the number of unauthorised encampments has reduced.

Those who do move through the area are said to come from Knowsley and the Wirral who

are said to have a tougher enforcement protocol.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

» Sefton currently has a Council-run permanent site which has 16 pitches. There is currently

a grant application to the HCA to expand this to 20 pitches. There is also a private site

located in close proximity to the public site. It is believed that the additional provision will

meet the needs of the population.

» The numbers of encampments which occur per year has fallen recently as a result of

increased efforts to protect at risk areas. The numbers have fallen from approximately

eight to two encampments per year.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

» There is one Local Authority-owned site with 20 pitches and several private sites. There is

no waiting list for the public site.

» In the past 5 years there has been a reduction in the number of encampments.

Wirral Borough Council

» There are no sites in the area.

» The number of unauthorised encampments is rising. The majority of these occur in the

north east side where there is a ferry terminal with regular crossings to Belfast.

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Wrexham County Borough Council

» There is one local authority site at Ruthin Road and two known private sites. The number

of available pitches in the area has reduced in recent years since the closure of the 19

pitch site at Croes Newydd and the replacement of the 10 pitches at Ruthin Road. It was

reported that most of the previous tenants have moved out of the area.

» Similar to Liverpool, Wrexham has seen a decrease in the numbers of unauthorised

encampments in recent years.

6.154 Overall, aside from the Wirral, officers from neighbouring authorities reported a reduction in unauthorised

encampments.

Cross Boundary Issues

6.155 A number of travelling routes were identified:

Cross-border routes

» Flintshire – North Wales Coast to Ireland (A55)

» Liverpool - Mersey Tunnel and Runcorn Bridge

» Sefton – Crosby to Southport.

6.156 As reported by officers, there appears to be much cross boundary communication and representatives from

neighbouring areas attend a number of cross boundary groups, including the Merseyside group run by Irish

Community Care Merseyside and the Gypsy and Traveller Strategic Partnership across the four Cheshire

authorities, which has been in existence since 2004.

6.157 Flintshire, Liverpool, Sefton and St Helens officers reflected positively on their relationship with officers and

the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer in Cheshire West and Halton who they have regular contact with.

6.158 North Wales is a popular location to “stop over” for Gypsies and Travellers, as a principle travelling route

passes through all of the local authority areas in North Wales. That said, Gypsies and Travellers in North

East Wales are constrained in their choice of where they can stay by the pattern of provision of sites, which

is skewed predominately to Flintshire and Wrexham, and also by the lack of any authorised provision in

Conwy or Denbighshire.

6.159 An officer representing Sefton argued for the provision of a transit site serving Merseyside.

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7. Future Pitch Provision Pitch Provision

7.1 This section focuses on the extra pitch provision which is required by the Cheshire Authorities currently and

over the next 15 years, to 2028, in 5 year segments. This includes both current unmet needs and needs

which are likely to arise in the future. This time period allows for robust forecasts of the requirements for

extra provision, based upon the evidence contained within this survey and also secondary data sources.

7.2 We would note that this section is based upon a combination of the on-site survey, planning records and

site preference list information. In many cases, the survey data are not used in isolation, but instead are

used to validate information from planning records or other sources.

7.3 This section concentrates not only upon the total extra provision which is required in the area, but whether

there is a need for any transit sites and/or emergency stopping place provision. The calculation will be

firstly provided for Gypsies and Travellers, before being repeated for Travelling Showpeople.

7.4 Before commencing on the identification of future needs, ORS would wish to note some key points. In

2010 the Coalition Government announced the planned abolition of all Regional Spatial Strategies and the

advent of the Localism Act 2011, National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and Planning Policy for Traveller

Sites 2012. The North West of England Regional Spatial Strategies was revoked on 20 May 2013 and so is

not used in the determination of planning applications.

7.5 It is also the case that ORS has not considered provision made in the period 2006-2013 and instead ORS is

taking April 2013 as a baseline position for its estimates. While there is a case to argue that authorities

who failed to meet their needs in the period 2006-2013 should be expected to meet these in the future,

there is no clear mechanism in place for this to occur. Instead ORS has modelled on any current needs in

each authority being a backlog which has derived over time and then allowed for additional future needs as

they are likely to arise.

7.6 ORS would also note the location for future provision is a key issue within studies such as this one. The

estimates for Local Authorities within this study are based upon the location where needs will arise. This is

not necessarily the same Local Authority as where need should be met. For example, it is difficult for

households to express a desire to live on a public site in an area which currently has no provision. Gypsies,

Travellers and Travelling Showpeople are not constrained by Local Authority boundaries and potentially the

requirement for one Local Authority could be met in a neighbouring area. However, for this to occur,

cooperation is required from both planning authorities. Therefore, ORS has not made explicit assumptions

about the allocation of needs arising in one area being met in another area, but ORS would recommend

that consideration is given within strategic planning documents that an equitable allocation of provision is

made between the authorities.

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7.7 To identify future need, the March 2012 CLG document ‘Planning Policy for Traveller Sites’, requires an

assessment for future pitch requirements, but does not provide a suggested methodology for undertaking

this calculation. However, in October 2007 CLG produced ‘Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs

Assessments: Guidance’. This document is due to be revised imminently at the time of writing, but this

assessment follows the principals set out in guidance. As with any housing assessment, the underlying

calculation can be broken down into a relatively small number of factors. In this case, the key issue for

residential pitches is to compare the supply of pitches available for occupation with the current and future

needs of the households. The key factors in each of these elements are set out below:

Supply of Pitches

7.8 Pitches which are available for use can come from a variety of sources. These include:

» Currently vacant pitches.

» Any pitches currently programmed to be developed within the study period.

» Pitches vacated by people moving to housing.

» Pitches vacated by people moving out of the study area – this will be identified as set out

above.

» Pitches vacated due to the dissolution of households (normally through the death of a

single person household).

Current Need

7.9 There are four key components of current need. Total current need (which is not necessarily need for

additional pitches because they may be able to be addressed by space available in the study area) is simply:

» Households on unauthorised developments (i.e. unauthorised pitches on land owned by the

Travellers themselves) for which planning permission is not expected.

» Concealed households.

» Households in brick and mortar wishing to move to sites.

Future Need

7.10 There are three key components of future need. Total future need is simply the sum of the following:

» Households living on sites with temporary planning permissions.

» New household formation expected during the study period.

» Migration to sites from outside the study area.

7.11 ORS will firstly provide the model as set out above for Gypsies and Travellers within the whole of Cheshire

and then for needs which arise within each planning area contained within it. ORS will then separately

analyse the possible need for additional transit provision in the study area before repeating the calculation

for Travelling Showpeople.

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Current Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision

7.12 Planning records indicate that there are approximately 266 pitches across Cheshire, plus further space

available for households in transit through the area. The household survey and waiting list records also

highlight a small number of concealed households and households in bricks and mortar who have

expressed a clear need for a permanent pitch on a site. The table below shows the number of households

on-site and in bricks and mortar while wishing to move to sites by authority.

Figure 15 Number of Households by Local Authority

Local Authority Permanent permission and developed

Temporary permission

Concealed households

Bricks and mortar

Tolerated sites

Unauthorised sites

Total

Cheshire East 98 9 3 2 0 3 115

Cheshire West and Chester

65 25 2 0 0 7 99

Halton 30 3 4 1 0 0 38

Warrington 4 16 1 0 0 6 27

Total 197 53 10 3 0 16 279

7.13 The next stage of the process is to assess how much space is, or will become, available on existing sites. The

main ways of finding this is through:

» Current empty pitches

» New sites or site extensions which have already been granted permission, or are likely to

gain planning permission in the foreseeable future, or sites which are likely to come back

into use following refurbishment

7.14 Currently, all authorised public site pitches are occupied, so there is no available space. For private sites,

many are for one family and have no available space on them, while others have a private renting

population where turnover is higher. A site in Cheshire East at Briar Pool Farm Caravan Site, Middlewich

has permission for eight pitches, but is no longer in use and the owners are seeking to convert the site to

park homes. Therefore, it has not been counted as supply in this assessment. In Cheshire West, planning

permission was granted for 30 additional pitches across two public sites. Therefore, we have counted these

30 permanent pitches as being part of the future supply alongside a private site that is in the process of

being developed with two pitches.

Figure 16 Future Supply of Pitches with Planning Permission by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Pitches

Cheshire East 0

Cheshire West and Chester 32

Halton 0

Warrington 0

TOTAL 32

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Additional Pitch Provision: Current Need

7.15 The next stage of the process is to assess how many households are currently seeking pitches in the area.

Groups of people who are likely to be seeking pitches will include those:

» Households on unauthorised developments for which planning permission is not expected.

» Concealed households.

» Households in bricks and mortar wishing to move to sites.

Current Unauthorised Developments

7.16 Recent caravan counts have shown around 25 caravans on unauthorised sites across Cheshire. The

household survey interviewed 14 households on unauthorised sites. A problem with many Gypsy and

Traveller Accommodation Assessments is that they have counted all caravans on unauthorised sites as

requiring a pitch in the area when in practice many are simply visiting. In order to remedy this, ORS’

approach is to treat need as only those households on unauthorised sites already in the planning system

(i.e. sites/pitches for which a planning application has been made), those otherwise known to the Local

Authorities as being resident in the area or those identified through the household survey as requiring

pitches.

7.17 For unauthorised sites, evidence from the Local Authorities and the household survey indicates that there

are three households in Cheshire East and six households in Warrington who are seeking to stay in the area.

7.18 We would note that these figures also include another seven long-standing pitches in Cheshire West which

do not have planning permission and are expected to be dissolved when new public sites are provided.

Figure 17 Unauthorised Pitches by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Pitches

Cheshire East 3

Cheshire West and Chester 7

Halton 0

Warrington 6

Total 16

Concealed Households

7.19 The household survey also sought to identify concealed households that require a pitch immediately. A

concealed household is one who is living within another household and would wish to form their own

separate family unit, but is unable to do so because of a lack of space on public or private sites.

Stakeholders indicated that there are a number of concealed households on private sites in Cheshire, but

these were not identified during the household survey which used a questionnaire which has identified

many concealed households elsewhere. There are a small number of cases in Cheshire of three generations

of families living together on pitches. However, in all cases this appears to be voluntary, with no

dissatisfaction or desire to move so they have not been counted as being concealed. There were also a

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small number of households visiting family in the area and temporarily overcrowding sites. However, these

households stated that they had permanent addresses elsewhere.

7.20 However, eight of the households on the transit site at Halton stated that they had no permanent address.

Of these three said they travelled permanently and were not seeking a permanent base, while one wanted

a permanent base in North Wales. However, four were seeking a permanent base in Cheshire. These are

concealed households, but Halton Council confirm that these households are also on the site preference

list.

7.21 However, ORS acknowledges that not all households in the study area were interviewed as part of the

study and have therefore added a 2.5% concealed household rate for all authorities except for Halton. ORS

wishes to emphasise that this figures should be considered as provision based upon possible concealed

households who were not identified in the household survey.

Figure 18 Concealed Households by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Pitches

Cheshire East 3

Cheshire West and Chester 2

Halton 4

Warrington 1

Total 10

Bricks and Mortar

7.22 Identifying households in bricks and mortar has been frequently highlighted as an issue with Gypsy and

Traveller Accommodation Assessments. The 2011 UK Census of Population identified a population of 633

Gypsy and Traveller persons in the whole of Cheshire. Given that there are over 400 caravans on site in the

area, the vast majority of the population are likely to be living on sites. The figure of 633 persons is likely to

be an under-estimate of the total population due to some Gypsies and Travellers not declaring their ethnic

status or completing the Census at all, but it does still indicate a relatively low population in bricks and

mortar.

7.23 As noted earlier, ORS worked with stakeholders, the Local Authorities and on-site interviewees to identify

households in bricks and mortar and this process yielded three interviews. ORS would note that

households who are seeking to move from housing to public sites can express a desire to do so through

registering on the site preference list for public sites and a small number of households have done this.

7.24 ORS would also note that in a number of recent studies undertaken, ORS has worked with national Gypsy

and Traveller representatives to identify households in brick and mortar. For a number of recent studies the

representatives reported over 100 known households in housing and they encouraged them to come

forward to take part in the survey. The actual number who eventually took part in the surveys ranged from

zero to six households per area, and not all wished to move back to sites. Therefore, while there is

anecdotal evidence of many Gypsies and Travellers in housing, most appear to be content to remain there

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and when provided with the opportunity by national representatives to register an interest in returning to

sites, few choose to do so.

7.25 It should be remembered that movement between housing and sites runs in both directions. However, the

on-site survey contained no interviews with households who wished to move from sites to bricks and

mortar. Therefore the net movement between sites and bricks and mortar is three households.

Figure 19 Movements between Sites and bricks and Mortar by Local Authority

Local Authority Movement from sites to bricks and mortar Movement from bricks and mortar to sites

Cheshire East 0 2

Cheshire West and Chester 0 0

Halton 0 1

Warrington 0 0

Total 0 3

Additional Pitch Provision: Future Need

7.26 The next stage of the process is to assess how many households are likely to be seeking pitches in the area

in the future. Groups of people who are likely to be seeking pitches will include:

» Households living on sites with temporary planning permissions.

» New household formation expected during the study period.

» Migration to sites from outside the study area.

Temporary Planning Permissions

7.27 Cheshire currently has 53 Gypsy and Traveller pitches with temporary planning permissions. In all cases,

the permissions will expire within the next 5 years and no-one interviewed on any of these sites wishes to

leave. They have therefore been counted as need within this assessment, but not as supply of pitches.

Figure 20 Temporary Planning Permissions by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of pitches

Cheshire East 9

Cheshire West and Chester 25

Halton 3

Warrington 16

Total 53

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New Household Formation

7.28 It is recognised that an important group for future pitch provision will be children from existing households

who will wish to form their own households. Many studies of Gypsy and Traveller populations, including

the (now abolished) North West Regional Spatial Strategy, assume a net growth in the population of around

3% per annum. However, long-term trends indicate that the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans on

site has grown by 134% nationally in the past 34 years, which equates to a net growth of around 2.5% per

annum. Unfortunately, no figures are available for Gypsy and Traveller households. However, UK Census of

Population 2011 and ORS own national survey data both indicate the population of Gypsies and Travellers

grows at a rate which could be as low as 1.5% per annum. Evidence for this is covered in the technical

appendix to this report.

7.29 While previous studies have used a net growth figure of 3%, ORS firmly believes that any evidence base,

including the present study, should use the most accurate information available, rather than simply relying

on precedent. The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments: Practice Guidance October

2007 notes on Page 25, footnote 5 states that:

The 3% family formation growth rate is used here as an example only. The appropriate rate for individual

assessments will depend on the details identified in the local survey, information from agencies working

directly with local Gypsy and Traveller communities, and trends identified from figures previously given for

the caravan count.

7.30 The household survey for Cheshire indicates an age profile for the population which is very typical of those

obtained elsewhere by ORS. Given that the age demographic of Cheshire’s Gypsy and Traveller community

appears to be roughly representative of the wider Gypsy and Traveller population, ORS considers it

appropriate to allow for future projected household growth to occur in line with the long-term national

trends identified above. Therefore, an annual growth rate of 2.5% has been used in this assessment. Given

that the evidence for population is as low as 1.5% per annum, ORS considers that this relatively high rate

will provide enough pitches to accommodate all newly-forming households in Cheshire and will also allow

for some concealed households and those living in bricks and mortar, who may not have been identified in

the survey.

7.31 When including the impact of compound growth, a 2.5% growth per annum provides for 13% growth over 5

years, 28% growth over 10 years and 45% growth over 15 years. Over the same time period, using ONS

2011 based population projections and extrapolating to 2028, the total population of the whole of Cheshire

is projected to grow by around 7%, with natural change providing for only a 3% growth and migration a

further 4%. Nationally, the growth rate projected over the next 15 years for the whole population is

around 10% for natural change and 20% when migration is included.

7.32 In terms of the total number of household formations per district, the table below set out the baseline

position for population and the growth rate based upon 45% over 15 years. It is assumed that each forming

household requires a pitch of its own.

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Figure 21 Number of Household Formations in the Period 2013-2028

Local Authority Households on site including those on the waiting list Household growth based upon 45% over 15 years

Cheshire East 115 52

Cheshire West and Chester 99 44

Halton 38 17

Warrington 27 12

Total 279 125

In-migration from Other Sources

7.33 The most complicated area for a survey such as this is to estimate how many households will require

accommodation from outside the area. Potentially, Gypsies and Travellers could move to the Cheshire area

from anywhere in the country. The number of households seeking to move to Cheshire is likely to be

heavily dependent upon pitch provision elsewhere. It has been noted that a weakness of many Gypsy and

Traveller Accommodation Assessments conducted across the country has been that they either allowed for

out-migration without in-migration, which led to under-counting of need, or they over-counted need by

assuming every household visiting the area required a pitch.

7.34 Overall the level of in-migration to Cheshire is a very difficult issue to predict. As noted in Chapter 3, over

50% of residents have lived in Cheshire for over 5 years. However, over 28% of respondents to the

household survey had lived at their current site for less than a year. While a number of these were only

visitors, there is some movement within existing permanent sites. The household survey indicates that

seven households are currently seeking to move, with one wishing to move outside of Cheshire to

Wrexham. The remainder are looking for permanent or better sites within Cheshire and most are happy to

consider anywhere in the area. Therefore, there is little evidence that households are seeking to leave

Cheshire. While it would be possible to extrapolate migration trend from within the household survey ORS

would suggest that with only one household seeking to leave the area this would not be a robust position

to adopt.

7.35 ORS would note that movement to the public sites is covered by pitch allocation polices and therefore does

not need to be included within the model again. ORS do allowed for a balanced level of migration on to

existing private sites. The advantage of allowing for net migration to sum to zero is that it avoids the

problems seen with other Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments, where the modelling of

migration clearly identified too low or high a level of total pitch provision. An assumption of net nil

migration implies that the net pitch requirement is driven by locally identifiable need. This is also

consistent with the findings from the stakeholder consultation on the Duty to Cooperate, where

neighbouring Local Authorities identified that they were seeking to address their own needs, but were not

making provision for more than this figure. ORS has also assumed a net nil migration between Local

Authorities in Cheshire, but as noted above many Gypsies and Travellers would be happy to consider

alternative locations within the study area and therefore migration across boundaries may occur.

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7.36 Beyond this, rather than assess in-migrant households seeking to develop new sites in the area, ORS would

propose that each case is assessed as a desire to live in the area and that site criteria rules are followed for

each new site. It is important for the authorities to have clear criteria-based planning policies in place for

any new potential sites which do arise.

Overall Needs for Cheshire

7.37 The estimated extra site provision that is required now and in the near future for the four authorities will

be 175 pitches to address the needs of all identifiable households. This includes the existing households on

unauthorised sites, those on the waiting list for a public site, those currently seeking to develop a private

site and growth in household numbers due to household formation.

Figure 22 Extra Pitches which are Required in the Cheshire Partnership area from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Pitches

Additional supply from empty pitches - -

Additional supply new sites - 32

Total Supply 32

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

16 -

Concealed households 10 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 3 -

Total Current Need 29

Future Needs

Currently on sites with temporary planning permission 53 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 125 -

Total Future Needs 178 -

Total 207 32 175

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Overall Needs for Each Planning Authority

7.38 To provide estimates for each Local Authority, ORS has apportioned the needs outlined above by Local

Authority on the basis of where the need currently arises, or where future household growth will arise

from. As discussed earlier, this process inevitably places a low amount of need in areas which currently

have low populations, while placing higher needs in authorities with larger populations. Therefore,

potentially the requirement being generated in one Local Authority could be met in a neighbouring area.

7.39 The Regional Spatial Strategy process sought to allocate provision across the entire region, and had the

potential to allocate sites to areas with a low current population, to help to relieve potential pressures on

those with little available building land or who had provided a high number of pitches already. Planning

Policy for Traveller sites encourages Local Authorities to produce joint plans for Gypsy and Traveller needs,

but there is now no formal process for allocating needs arising in one authority as provision in another

authority. Feedback from the CLG indicates that the Duty to Cooperate is not a Duty to Agree and

therefore it will require the Local Authorities to plan strategically across boundaries if needs are not to be

met where they arise.

Cheshire East

Figure 23 Extra Pitches which are Required in Cheshire East from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Pitches

Additional supply from empty pitches - -

Additional supply new sites - -

Total Supply 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

3 -

Concealed households 3 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 2 -

Total Current Need 8 -

Future Needs

Currently on sites with temporary planning permission 9 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 52 -

Total Future Needs 61 -

Total 69 0 69

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Cheshire West and Chester

Figure 24 Extra Pitches which are Required in Cheshire West and Chester from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Pitches

Additional supply from empty pitches - -

Additional supply new sites - 32

Total Supply - 32

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

7* -

Concealed households 2 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 9

Future Needs

Currently on sites with temporary planning permission 25 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 44 -

Total Future Needs 69 -

Total 78 32 46

*Seven pitches on a site near the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port that have been tolerated

by the council, but on the basis that the site will be dissolved once authorised pitches are provided.

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Halton

Figure 25 Extra Pitches which are Required in Halton from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Pitches

Additional supply from empty pitches -

Additional supply new sites -

Total Supply 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

0 -

Concealed households 4 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 1 -

Total Current Need 5

Future Needs

Currently on sites with temporary planning permission 3 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 17 -

Total Future Needs 20 -

Total 25 0 25

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Warrington

Figure 26 Extra Pitches which are Required in Warrington Borough from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Pitches

Additional supply from empty pitches - -

Additional supply new sites - -

Total Supply - 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

6 -

Concealed households 1 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 7

Future Needs

Currently on sites with temporary planning permission 16 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 12 -

Total Future Needs 28 -

Total 35 0 35

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Split by Local Authority to 2028 in 5 year Time Period

7.40 In terms of providing results by 5 year time periods, ORS has assumed that all unauthorised sites, concealed

households, movements from bricks and mortar and sites with temporary planning permissions are

addressed in the first 5 years. Any supply from undeveloped sites is assumed to be developed in the first 5

years. Household formation is apportioned over time.

7.41 In summary, Figure 27 sets out the net requirement for new pitch provision by Local Authority until 2028.

Any current need is included in the initial period 2013-2018, along with any need arising from new

household formation during that time. Any supply of pitches has also been taken into account in the first 5

year period.

Figure 27 Extra Pitch Provision in the Cheshire Partnership Area by Local Authority in 5 Year Periods

Planning Authority 2013-2018 2018-2023 2023-2028 Total

Cheshire East 32 17 20 69

Cheshire West and Chester 15 15 16 46

Halton 12 6 7 25

Warrington 26 4 5 35

Total 85 42 48 175

Transit/Emergency Stopping Site Provision

7.42 Transit sites serve a specific function of meeting the needs of Gypsy and Traveller households who are

visiting an area or who are passing through. A transit site typically has a restriction on the length of stay of

around 13 weeks and has a range of facilities such as water supply, electricity and amenity blocks. The

existing transit site in Halton contains contain shared gender specific amenity blocks with a separate block

for people with disabilities. They do not have a function in meeting local need which must be addressed on

permanent sites.

7.43 An alternative to a transit site is an emergency stopping place. This type of site also has restrictions on the

length of time for which a Traveller can stay on it, but has much more limited facilities with typically only a

source of water and chemical toilets provided. Some authorities also operate an accepted encampment

policy where households are provided with access to lighting, drinking water, refuse collection and hiring of

portable toilets at a cost to the Travellers.

7.44 The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is particularly important with regard to the issue of Gypsy

and Traveller transit site provision. Section 62A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act allows the

Police to direct trespassers to remove themselves, their vehicles and their property from any land where a

suitable pitch on a relevant caravan site is available within the same Local Authority area (or within the

county in two-tier Local Authority areas).

7.45 A suitable pitch on a relevant caravan site is one which is situated in the same Local Authority area as the

land on which the trespass has occurred, and which is managed by a Local Authority, Registered Provider or

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other person or body as specified by order by the Secretary of State. In two-tier authority areas, where a

District Council is situated within a wider County Council area, the relevant caravan site may be anywhere

within the county council area. Case law has confirmed that a suitable pitch must be somewhere where the

household can occupy their caravan and bricks and mortar housing is not a suitable alternative to a pitch.

7.46 There is currently one operational public transit site in the study area located in Halton. However, due to

each Council being a unitary authority, this site cannot be shared with any others in Cheshire. ORS would

also note that Local Authorities are not able to use transit provision on private sites as part of their

enforcement action policies and therefore, while it does provide an option for visiting households it is at

the discretion of the site owner who is allowed on to the site.

7.47 Therefore, a public transit site both provides a place for households in transit to an area and also a

mechanism for greater enforcement action against inappropriate unauthorised encampments. However,

ORS has spoken to a number of Local Authorities and County Councils across the country such as those in

Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and Hertfordshire, with many indicating that

publicly-provided transit sites are poorly used and in some cases, have fallen out of use. This is part is due

to the location away from major travelling routes.

7.48 Evidence provided by stakeholders and the Local Authorities indicates that a significant number of

encampments occur each year which a transit site may help to address. In particular, the number of

unauthorised encampments has fallen sharply in Halton since a public transit site was provided, saving

significantly on legal and clean-up costs. Meanwhile, the remaining Authorities see much higher rates of

unauthorised encampments. The table below shows the number of encampments by authority since 2005.

Please note Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester were formed in 2009, and the figures from earlier

periods are drawn from the Local Authorities who formed parts of these areas.

Figure 28 Unauthorised Encampments in the Cheshire Partnership Area by Local Authority 2005-2013

Year Cheshire East

Cheshire West and Chester

Halton Warrington

2005 45 45 83 54

2006 51 69 66 63

2007 58 50 21 58

2008 38 23 10 17

2009 24 23 4 24

2010 28 17 6 17

2011 30 17 7 28

2012 38 25 7 59

2013 55 21 2 45

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7.49 Therefore, to accommodate visiting households and to provide a more powerful mechanism for addressing

unauthorised encampments, ORS recommends that Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and

Warrington each provide a suitably located, publicly-provided transit site of between five and 10 pitches.

This is generally considered to be the minimum size of site necessary to be effective for addressing

unauthorised encampments and should be able to cope with typical levels of travelling.

Needs for Plots for Travelling Showpeople

7.50 Planning records indicate that there are 16 plots with planning permission across Cheshire for Travelling

Showpeople, plus a small number of concealed households and unauthorised yards. The table below shows

the number of households by authority. Figure 29 Number of Households by Local Authority

Local Authority Permanent permission and developed

Temporary permission

Concealed households

Bricks and mortar

Tolerated yards

Unauthorised yards

Total

Cheshire East 1 0 0 0 0 1 2

Cheshire West and Chester

13 0 3 0 0 0 16

Halton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Warrington 2 0 0 0 0 2 4

Total 16 0 3 0 0 3 22

7.51 The next stage of the process is to assess how much space is, or will become, available on existing yards.

The main ways of finding this is through:

» Current empty plots.

» New yards or yard extensions which have already been granted permission or are likely to

gain planning permission in the foreseeable future or yards which are likely to come back

into use following refurbishment.

7.52 Currently, all authorised plots are occupied, so there is no available space and no additional plots have

been granted planning permission.

Figure 30 Future Supply of Plots with Planning Permission by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Plots

Cheshire East 0

Cheshire West and Chester 0

Halton 0

Warrington 0

TOTAL 0

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Additional Plot Provision: Current Need

7.53 The next stage of the process is to assess how many households are currently seeking plots in the area.

Groups of people who are likely to be seeking plots will include those:

» Households on unauthorised developments for which planning permission is not expected.

» Concealed households.

» Households in bricks and mortar wishing to move to yards.

Current Unauthorised Developments

7.54 There is a single yard in Warrington containing two unauthorised plots. These households wish to move to

a new yard. There is one unauthorised yard in Cheshire East.

Figure 31 Unauthorised Plots by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Plots

Cheshire East 1

Cheshire West and Chester 0

Halton 0

Warrington 2

Total 3

Concealed Households

7.55 The on-site survey indicated that there are three Travelling Showperson households who are concealed

households in Cheshire at Winsford.

Figure 32 Concealed Households by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of Plots

Cheshire East 0

Cheshire West and Chester 3

Halton 0

Warrington 0

Total 3

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Bricks and Mortar

7.56 No households were identified in bricks and mortar who wished to move to yards, or households on yards

who wished to move to housing.

Figure 33 Movements between Yards and Bricks and Mortar by Local Authority

Local Authority Movement from yards to bricks and mortar Movement from bricks and mortar to yards

Cheshire East 0 0

Cheshire West and Chester 0 0

Halton 0 0

Warrington 0 0

Total 0 0

Additional Plot Provision: Future Need

7.57 The next stage of the process is to assess how many households are likely to be seeking plots in the area in

the future. Groups of people who are likely to be seeking plots will include:

» Households living on yards with temporary planning permissions.

» New household formation expected during the study period.

» Migration to yards from outside the study area.

Temporary Planning Permissions

7.58 Cheshire currently has no Travelling Showpeople yards with temporary planning permissions.

Figure 34 Temporary Planning Permissions by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of plots

Cheshire East 0

Cheshire West and Chester 0

Halton 0

Warrington 0

Total 0

In-migration from Other Sources

7.59 Unlike the situation with Gypsies and Travellers in Cheshire, there is clear evidence of Travelling

Showpeople seeking to move to Cheshire. The evidence for this is documented in the table overleaf.

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Figure 35 Travelling Showpeople Households Seeking to Move to Cheshire

Showperson Household Interview

Summary of Findings Minimum number of Plots required

1

7.60 Lives in the Midlands on a 15 plot yard with his two grown-up children. They and 14 others own this yard but they have outgrown it and there is no room to extend it. They were brought up in Cheshire and travel for work in Winsford and Warrington. Living in Cheshire would make it easier for their business. They, along with other families, would like to buy land in the area to provide at least 10 plots.

10

2 Currently based in Bolton and is the part-owner of a yard of 10

chalets/10 transit plots. The yard is at capacity with equipment parked on street. They have been looking for new yard for 20 years. Looking to develop a yard in Warrington where they work frequently. They want three acres to accommodate two sisters and some friends.

5

3

7.61 Currently based in Newcastle-Under-Lyme on a yard which is full. They have some of their equipment in Thurrock in Essex. A new yard would allow children to stay in the same school (currently in a school in Kidsgrove). They are looking for between one and four plots in East Cheshire, ideally close to the border with Staffordshire.

1

4

7.62 They previously lived in Bolton and are now in Loughborough, not through choice but necessity, and can no longer live near family. They would like a yard in Warrington for one plot.

1

5

7.63 Currently living in Manchester. They would like four plots on a yard in Warrington/Chester.

4

6

7.64 Own land in Cheshire East and are seeking to develop it to provide nine plots.

9

Total Net Migration Need 30

7.65 While there is no clear reason why any of the above groups or households’ needs must be met in Cheshire,

there is also no reason they must be met anywhere else and they have identified the area they want to

have them met as being Cheshire. ORS would also acknowledge that there is a potential for double-

counting with the households seeking to live Cheshire. Potentially they may have been counted as need in

other areas where they currently reside, but there is no system in place which allows for a joined-up

consideration of needs across a region or nationally.

7.66 For Gypsies and Travellers, ORS has counted any household who are on unauthorised sites and wish to

remain there as being part of the needs of that area. In this case, none of the Travelling Showpeople have

chosen to move on to the yard they own and instead all wish to work with the respective Local Authorities

to find a solution to their problems. ORS would consider it a very perverse incentive within such

calculations to count households who buy land and move on to it, but not those who seek to work through

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the planning process in a legitimate way, by seeking planning permission before moving on to their land. It

would simply represent an encouragement for any household seeking to develop a yard to buy land and

occupy it, which runs counter to Government policy.

7.67 Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, when read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework,

is clear that Local Authorities must deal with anticipated in-migration and cannot reject yards because of a

lack of local connections. Therefore, following the principles adopted for Gypsies and Travellers that needs

are met where they arise, ORS has counted their needs as being met in Cheshire.

7.68 ORS notes that Planning Policy for Traveller Sites paragraph 25 states that:

» If a local planning authority cannot demonstrate an up-to-date 5 year supply of

deliverable sites, this should be a significant material consideration in any subsequent

planning decision when considering applications for the grant of temporary planning

permission.

7.69 It is therefore clear that responsibility for identifying land to address needs lies with the Local Authority and

not potential applicants for yards.

7.70 In terms of Local Authorities, where a specific area was identified, the need has been allocated to it. For 14

of the plots, the identified area was either Warrington or Cheshire West and therefore the need has been

split between these two Authorities for these plots.

Figure 36 In-migration by Local Authority

Local Authority Number of plots

Cheshire East 10

Cheshire West and Chester 7

Halton 0

Warrington 13

Total 30

New Household Formation

7.71 For household growth, the typical growth rate for the Travelling Showpeople population is lower than for

Gypsies and Travellers with estimates normally being from 1%-1.5%. Given that many of the in-migrant

households are moving to effectively form and release overcrowding, ORS has used the 1% rate. A growth

rate of 1% provides for total net growth of 16% over 15 years. Given that including in-migration, there are

approximately 50 households on site this equates to eight additional households by 2028.

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Figure 37 Number of Household Formations in the Period 2013-2028

Local Authority Households on site Household growth based upon 16% over 15 years

Cheshire East 11 2

Cheshire West and Chester 21 3

Halton 0 0

Warrington 17 3

Total 49 8

Overall Needs for Cheshire for Travelling Showpeople

7.72 The estimated extra plot provision that is required now and in the near future for the four authorities will

be 44 plots to address the needs of all identifiable households. This includes the existing households on

unauthorised plots, concealed households, in-migrants and growth in household numbers due to

household formation.

Figure 38 Extra Plots which are Required for Travelling Showpeople in Cheshire from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Plots

Additional supply from empty plots - 0

Additional supply new yards - 0

Total Supply 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

3 -

Concealed households 3 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 6

Future Needs

Currently on yards with temporary planning permission 0 -

Net migration 30 --

Net new household formation 8 -

Total Future Needs 38 -

Total 44 0 44

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Overall Needs for Each Planning Authority for Travelling Showpeople

Cheshire East

Figure 39 Extra Plots which are Required in Cheshire East from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Plots

Additional supply from empty plots - -

Additional supply new yards - -

Total Supply 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

1 -

Concealed households 0 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 1 -

Future Needs

Currently on yards with temporary planning permission 0 -

Net migration 10 -

Net new household formation 2 -

Total Future Needs 12 -

Total 13 0 13

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Cheshire West and Chester

Figure 40 Extra Plots which are Required in Cheshire West and Chester from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Plots

Additional supply from empty plots - -

Additional supply new yards - -

Total Supply - 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

0 -

Concealed households 3 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 3

Future Needs

Currently on yards with temporary planning permission 0 -

Net migration 7 -

Net new household formation 3 -

Total Future Needs 10 -

Total 13 0 13

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Halton

Figure 41 Extra Plots which are Required in Halton from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Plots

Additional supply from empty plots -

Additional supply new yards -

Total Supply 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

0 -

Concealed households 0 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 0

Future Needs

Currently on yards with temporary planning permission 0 -

Net migration 0 -

Net new household formation 0 -

Total Future Needs 0 -

Total 0 0 0

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Warrington

Figure 42 Extra Plots which are Required in Warrington from 2013-2028

Reason for Requirement/Vacancy Gross Requirement

Supply Net Requirement

Supply of Plots

Additional supply from empty plots - -

Additional supply new yards - -

Total Supply - 0

Current Need

Current unauthorised developments or encampments and seeking to stay in the area

2 -

Concealed households 0 -

Movement from bricks and mortar 0 -

Total Current Need 2

Future Needs

Currently on yards with temporary planning permission 0 -

Net migration 13 -

Net new household formation 3 -

Total Future Needs 16 -

Total 18 0 18

Split by Local Authority to 2028 for Travelling Showpeople

7.73 In terms of providing results by 5 year time periods, ORS has assumed that all unauthorised yards,

concealed households and in-migration are addressed in the first 5 years. Household formation is

apportioned over time.

7.74 In summary, Figure 43 sets out the net requirement for new plot provision by Local Authority until 2028.

Figure 43 Extra Plot Provision for travelling Showpeople in the Cheshire Partnership Area by Local Authority in 5 Year Periods 2013-2028

Planning Authority 2013-2018 2018-2023 2023-2028 Total

Cheshire East 11 1 1 13

Cheshire West and Chester 11 1 1 13

Halton 0 0 0 0

Warrington 16 1 1 18

Total 38 3 3 44

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8. Conclusions Introduction

8.1 This chapter brings together the evidence presented earlier in the report to provide some key policy

conclusions for Cheshire. It focuses upon the key issues of future site provision for Gypsies and Travellers

and also Travelling Showpeople.

Gypsy and Traveller Future Pitch Provision

8.2 Based upon the evidence presented in Chapter 7, the estimated extra pitch provision required for Gypsies

and Travellers to 2028 in Cheshire is 175 pitches. These figures should be seen as the projected amount of

provision which is necessary to meet the statutory obligations towards identifiable needs of the population

arising in the area.

8.3 The table below shows the provision required by type of site in 5 year time periods. This is based upon

addressing any current backlog of need where it arises in the next 5 years and then projecting forward

household growth based upon the size of the existing on-site population.

Figure 44 Extra Pitch Provision in the Cheshire Partnership Area by Local Authority in 5 Year Periods

Planning Authority 2013-2018 2018-2023 2023-2028 Total

Cheshire East 32 17 20 69

Cheshire West and Chester 15 15 16 46

Halton Borough 12 6 7 25

Warrington Borough 26 4 5 35

Total 85 42 48 175

Transit Sites

8.4 There is currently one operational public transit sites in the study area located in Halton. However, due to

each Council being a unitary authority, this site cannot be shared with any others in Cheshire. We would

also note that Local Authorities are not able to use transit provision on private sites as part of their

enforcement action policies and therefore while it does provide an option for visiting households it is at the

discretion of the site owner who is allowed on to the site.

8.5 Evidence provided by stakeholders and the Local Authorities indicates that a significant number of

encampments occur each year which a transit site may help to address. In particular the number of

unauthorised encampments has fallen sharply in Halton since a public transit site was provided, saving

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significantly on legal and clean-up costs. Meanwhile, the remaining Authorities see much higher rates of

unauthorised encampments.

8.6 Therefore, to accommodate visiting households and to provide a more powerful mechanism for addressing

unauthorised encampments ORS recommends that Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and

Warrington each provide a suitably located, publicly-provided transit site of between 5 and 10 pitches. This

is generally considered to be the minimum size of site necessary to be effective for addressing

unauthorised developments and should be able to cope with typical levels of travelling.

Travelling Showperson Requirements

8.7 There are four sources of requirements for the Showperson population in Cheshire, namely concealed

households, those on an unauthorised yard, groups of Travelling Showpeople who are seeking

accommodation in the area and the growth in the population over time. In total, the area requires 44 extra

plots to 2028.

8.8 In summary, the table below sets out the net requirement for new plot provision by Local Authority until

2028.

Figure 45 Extra Plot Provision for Travelling Showpeople in the Cheshire Partnership Area by Local Authority in 5 Year Periods 2013-2028

Planning Authority 2013-2018 2018-2023 2023-2028 Total

Cheshire East 11 1 1 13

Cheshire West and Chester 11 1 1 13

Halton 0 0 0 0

Warrington 16 1 1 18

Total 38 3 3 44

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Appendices

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Appendix A: Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire (April 2013)

Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire East Site Number of Pitches

Local Authority Sites

Astbury Marsh, Congleton 18

TOTAL PITCHES ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES 18

Private Sites with Permanent Permission

Flat Lane, Sandbach, CW11 4BD 2

Booth Lane, Middlewich, CW11 3PU 16

Cledford Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0JS 3

Cledford Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0JT 3

Newcastle Road, Betchton, Sandbach, CW11 2WE 25

Tetton Bridge, Cottage Yard, off Booth Lane, Moston Middlewich, CW10 0HF 3

3 East Tetton Cottages, Booth Lane, Middlewich 1

1 East Tetton Cottages, Booth Lane, Middlewich 1

Horseshoe Farm, Warmingham Lane, Sandbach 3

Nantwich Road, Wrenbury, Nantwich, CW5 8ED 16

Stapeley, Cheshire, CW5 7JP 3

Railway Bridge Cottages, Nantwich 4

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 80

Private Sites with Temporary Permission

Thimswarra Farm, Moston 1

New Start Park, Nantwich 8

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 9

Tolerated Sites – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

Spinks Lane, Knutsford 3

TOTAL PITCHES ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 3

TOTAL PITCHES 110

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Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Cheshire West and Chester Site Number of Pitches

Local Authority Sites

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES 0

Private Sites with Permanent Permission

Maryburgh Caravan Park, Hapsford 25

Land at Junction with Grass Road and A5117, Elton 5

Country Meadow Field, Dunham on the Hill 3

Land at Travellers Rest, Winsford 16*

The Old Pumping Station, Frodsham 13**

Land at Old Hall Lane, Elton 1

Land at Junction of Davenham Bypass and London Road, Northwich 2

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 65

Private Sites with Temporary Permission

Prevan Place, Elton 2

Green Acres, Childer Thornton 3

Little Meadow Park, Elton 4

The Paddocks, Dunham on the Hill 1

Whitegate Stables, Mickle Trafford 7

Green Meadows Chalet Park, Alvaney 4

Land Adjacent to Hillcrest, Dunham on the Hill 3

The Nursery, Frodsham 1

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 25

Tolerated Sites – Long-term without planning permission

TOTAL PITCHES ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

Land Adjacent National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port 7

TOTAL PITCHES ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 7

TOTAL PITCHES 97

*While planning permission for this site specifies 16 caravans, the on-site survey indicates that there are in

fact 16 pitches at the site, with more than 16 caravans.

**Likewise, while planning permission for this site specifies 13 caravans, rather than pitches, the

indications from the on-site survey indicate 13 pitches, with more than 13 caravans.

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Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Halton Site Number of Pitches

Local Authority Sites

Riverview, Widnes 23

Runcorn Transit Site, Runcorn 2 (+10 transit)

TOTAL PITCHES ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES 25

Private Sites with Permanent Permission

Bigfield Lodge, Runcorn 5

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 5

Private Sites with Temporary Permission

Chester Road, Daresbury 3

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 3

Tolerated Sites – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS -

TOTAL PITCHES 33

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Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Warrington Site Number of Pitches

Local Authority Sites

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES 0

Private Sites with Permanent Permission

Land Adjacent to 57 Gorsey Lane, Warrington 2

Smithfield Caravan Park, Glazebury 2

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 4

Private Sites with Temporary Permission

Two Acre Caravan Park, Higher Walton 15

Woodend Farm, Rixton 1

TOTAL PITCHES ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 16

Tolerated Sites – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PITCHES ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

Grappenhall Lodge, Grappenhall 6

TOTAL PITCHES ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 6

TOTAL PITCHES 26

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Appendix B: Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire (April 2013)

Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire East Site Number of Plots

Local Authority Yards

TOTAL PLOTS ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES

Private Yards with Permanent Permission

The Whites Showman’s site, Newcastle Road, Brereton 1

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 1

Private Yards with Temporary Permission

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 0

Tolerated Yards – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PLOTS ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES -

Unauthorised Developments

Booth Lane, Sandbach, CW11 3PU 1

TOTAL PLOTS ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 1

TOTAL PLOTS 2

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Travelling Showpeople Yards in Cheshire West and Chester Site Number of Plots

Local Authority Yards

TOTAL PLOTS ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES

Private Yards with Permanent Permission

Bradford Road, Winsford 13

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 13

Private Yards with Temporary Permission

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 0

Tolerated Yards – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PLOTS ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

TOTAL PLOTS ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 0

TOTAL PLOTS 13

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Travelling Showpeople Yards in Halton Site Number of Plots

Local Authority Yards

TOTAL PLOTS ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES 0

Private Yards with Permanent Permission

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 0

Private Yards with Temporary Permission

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 0

Tolerated Yards – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PLOTS ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

TOTAL PLOTS ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 0

TOTAL PLOTS 0

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Travelling Showpeople Yards in Warrington Site Number of Plots

Local Authority Yards

TOTAL PLOTS ON LOCAL AUTHORITY SITES

Private Yards with Permanent Permission

Liverpool Road, Warrington, WA5 1RD 2

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH PERMANENT PERMISSION 2

Private Yards with Temporary Permission

TOTAL PLOTS ON PRIVATE SITES WITH TEMPORARY PERMISSION 0

Tolerated Yards – Long-term without planning permission

- -

TOTAL PLOTS ON LONG-TERM TOLERATED PRIVATE SITES 0

Unauthorised Developments

Foundry Street, Warrington, WA2 7NB 2

TOTAL PLOTS ON UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENTS 2

TOTAL PLOTS 4


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