Time is running out for residents in the East of England to have their say on plans to address the shortage of caravan pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in the region. The deadline for comments is Friday 16 May, 2008.
This consultation is being run by the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Local authorities are responsible for planning authorised pitches for the 4,229 Gypsy and Traveller caravans in the region. Of these 1,140 are currently on unauthorised pitches. East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has recommended that each of the region's 48 local authorities should provide at least 15 additional pitches. Proposals will be finalised by GO-East in 2009.
Tim Freathy, Acting Deputy Regional Director of GO-East said:
"It is important to engage with the Gypsy and Traveller community. By providing enough authorised sites to meet people's needs we can reduce unauthorised encampments and help to end friction with settled communities."
The plans for additional Gypsy and Traveller caravan pitches are part of a single issue review of the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) and follow two years of research and consultation with local authorities, businesses, voluntary organisations, the public and Gypsies and Travellers.
The East of England Plan provides a clear, agreed, long-term vision for how the region will provide jobs and homes for its residents until 2021 and beyond. It is the framework for putting into place the Government's growth agenda within the region and ensuring that growth is sustainable. The adequate provision of homes and affordable housing to accommodate the needs of different communities, is a vital element of the Plan.
Responses to the public consultation will be considered by an independent panel who will conduct an Examination in Public and provide recommendations on any changes to the proposals. The Government will consult on any further changes before publishing the final policy later in 2009.
