New rules on traveller sites (From Tewkesbury Admag)

New rules on traveller sites

COTSWOLD District Council's cabinet is set to discuss tough new guidelines for dealing with illegal traveller sites today.

Gloucestershire County Council has put forward a protocol for managing unauthorised encampments, for approval by the district.

The code would be used by councils, police and health authorities across the county.

The existing policy of tolerance, introduced nearly ten years ago, has been remodelled due to changing attitudes, legislation and government guidance.

The new guidelines are intended to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various authorities and set out who should take the lead role in managing particular sites.

The lead authority would use a checklist of criteria to decide if a group of travellers should be evicted or allowed to stay. In particular it would take into account nuisance factors such as road safety hazards, toilet facilities, late-night disturbances and uncontrolled dogs.

The authority would consider criminal or anti-social behaviour, education and the medical conditions of travellers.

Tolerance would be shown to travellers on unlawfully occupied sites only if there were no risk to safety or nuisance presented to landowners or residents.

The cabinet will also be discussing a revised housing strategy, the future of the planning enforcement service and car park charges at today's meeting.