The Gypsy and Travellers Site Allocations DPD will take a strategic approach to assist in meeting current and future accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across Wiltshire.
Timetable
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Issues & General Approach Report | 2010 |
| Review overall level of site provision | 2011 |
| Preparation, evidence gathering and developing options | Winter to early summer 2012 |
| Pre-Submission consultation | Autumn 2012 |
| Examination and Inspector's Report | Summer to winter 2013 |
| Adoption | Winter 2013/14 |
What has happened so far?
Wiltshire Council consulted on the first stage in the preparation of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD. The consultation document was called the Issues and General Approach Report and the consultation ran from 6 April 2010 until 4 June 2010 (for more information see below).
At that time it was the intention to produce a Gypsy and Travellers Site Allocations DPD which included policies on the strategic need for sites using the policies set out in the draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy. Since that time national policy has changed and a proposed strategic requirement for new Traveller pitches in Wiltshire has been included in the Wiltshire Core Strategy Pre-submission document. The policy within the Wiltshire core strategy is supported by Topic Paper 16 - Gypsys and Travellers which includes the latest postion in relation to policy development for Travellers in Wiltshire. The timetable for the production of the Gypsy and Travellers Site Allocations DPD is now tied to the timetable for the Wiltshire Core Strategy.
What is the next stage in the production of the DPD?
The timetable for the DPD is tied to that of the core strategy. The intention is to develop draft policies during 2012 in discussion with local stakeholders. Submission of the document to the Secretary of State cannot take place until after adoption of the Wiltshire core strategy which is currently programmed for the end of 2012.
The information that has been gathered to date, including all the comments submitted during the Issues and General Approach consultation, will be used to develop policy and site options for allocation. The objective of this stage will be to:
- Refine the criteria based policies for the location of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites in Wiltshire.
- Assess site options for the allocation of new sites. This involves preparing a list of candidate sites that will be tested to assess whether they are suitable to consider for allocation.
- Develop policies in relation to site management, appropriate site size, the expansion of existing sites and on site facilities (parking standards, amenity standards etc)
Issues and General Approach Report
All the consultation documents are available to download below. Since the close of the consultation on the Issues and General Approach report in June 2010, officers have been collating responses and working with our appointed consultants CDN Planning to progress the Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD. A factual report of the consultation is now available and included in the list to download below.
Some of the issues raised by a number of respondents are summarised below.
- A number of respondents challenged the Circular definition of Gypsy and Traveller included in the report as it seemed to exclude new travellers and boaters which were specific types of Traveller in Wiltshire that should be recognised.
- There was a lack of confidence in the amount of new accommodation being provided especially as they were taken from the draft RSS which was likely to be revoked.
- There were questions about providing access to employment and the need to provide for business uses within new sites.
- There was a real sense from many respondents that Gypsy and Travellers should be treated in the same way as everyone else when looking for a home.
- There was a difference of opinion not necessarily in relation to the need for sites to have access to facilities but in relation to acceptable distances to facilities.
- There was support for the approach taken and criteria within the methodology from a number of agencies, for example, Environment Agency and Highways Agency.
- There were concerns about how new sites would impact on local communities and the local environment with comments suggesting that small (fewer than 5 pitches), private, family run sites would have less impact on the local area and encourage integration.
Issues and General Approach documents
Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach April 2010 430kb- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Feedback Form 37kb
Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Feedback Form 58kb- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Call for Sites Form 37kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Call for Sites Form 75kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Leaflet 408kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Posters 1.9mb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Flyer 154kb
Audio File
An audio file to accompany the consultation is available to download and listen to below.
Wiltshire Council Gypsy and Travellers Exhibition boards
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 1 Context.pdf Context 143kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 2 Policy.pdf Steps in policy development 29kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 3 Facts.pdf The facts 242kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 4 Issues.pdf Identifying the issues 51kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 5 Finding New Sites.pdf Finding new sites 91kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 6 Call for Sites.pdf Call for sites 136kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Board 7 Contact Us.pdf Contact us 72kb
Background documents
- Wiltshire and Swindon Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2006 - Final Report 1.4mb
- Wiltshire and Swindon Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2006 Executive Summary 49kb
- North Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Issues and Options Consultation May 2008 1.3mb
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone:
01225 713223
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
Spatial Planning Team
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea
Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 713223
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
Spatial Planning Team
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea
Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JN
In Person:
DX:
Last updated: 18 April 2012
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