ASHFORD, MAIDSTONE, TONBRIDGE & MALLING & TUNBRIDGE WELLS
GYPSY & TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENT 2005/6
FINAL REPORT
Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 4 1.2 METHODOLOGY...... 5 1.3 KEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY ...... 5 1.4 ADEQUACY AND SATISFACTION...... 6 1.5 TRAVEL PATTERNS AND MOVING PLANS...... 7 1.6 ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION...... 7 1.7 HARASSMENT / EVICTION ...... 7 1.8 DISABILITY...... 8 1.9 CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS ...... 8 1.10 IDEAL ACCOMMODATION...... 8 1.11 RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE DATA ...... 9 2 INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY ...... 11 2.1 INTRODUCTION...... 11 2.2 AIMS & OBJECTIVES ...... 11 2.3 DEFINITION OF NEED ...... 12 2.4 DEFINITION OF GYPSY AND TRAVELLER HOUSEHOLD ...... 12 2.5 METHODOLOGY...... 13 2.6 RESPONSE RATE ...... 15 2.7 MILLFIELD QUALITY CONTROL ...... 15 2.8 STUDY OUTPUTS...... 15 3 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING ON SITE...... 17 3.1 CURRENT ACCOMMODATION ...... 17 3.2 TRAVEL PATTERNS...... 24 3.3 RECENT ACCOMMODATION ...... 28 3.4 YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ...... 31 3.5 ACCESS TO SERVICES AND FACILITIES ...... 32 3.6 HARASSMENT ...... 35 3.7 WORK ...... 35 3.8 INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ...... 37 3.9 FUTURE ACCOMMODATION...... 38 3.10 SITE ACCOMMODATION ...... 41 3.11 HOUSING ACCOMMODATION...... 43 3.12 NEEDS OF CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS ...... 43 3.13 IDEAL SITES...... 44 3.14 SERVICE PROVISION ...... 47 4 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING IN PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION ...... 48 4.1 CURRENT ACCOMMODATION ...... 48 4.2 TRAVEL ...... 52 4.3 RECENT ACCOMMODATION ...... 54 4.4 YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ...... 56 4.5 ACCESS TO SERVICES AND FACILITIES ...... 57 4.6 HARASSMENT ...... 58 4.7 WORK ...... 58 4.8 INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ...... 60 4.9 FUTURE ACCOMMODATION...... 60 4.10 SITE ACCOMMODATION ...... 62 4.11 HOUSING ACCOMMODATION...... 63 4.12 NEEDS OF CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS ...... 63 4.13 IDEAL SITES...... 64 4.14 SERVICE PROVISION ...... 66 5 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION NEEDS MODEL ...... 67 5.1 SUPPLY ...... 67 5.2 NEED ...... 69
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6 KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 72 6.1 KEY FINDINGS...... 72 6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE DATA ...... 74 6.3 NOTES OF GTAA STAKEHOLDERS SEMINAR...... 75 7 REFERENCES...... 79
APPENDICES
I Questionnaire II Site and Housed Letters III Survey Weighting IV Glossary of Terms V Summary of Caravan Count
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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Aims and Objectives
1.1.1 Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council formally commissioned DCA in May 2005 to carry out a four-district study of the housing needs and aspirations of Gypsies and Travellers who are housed or living on authorised or unauthorised sites. The aims of the survey are:
¾ to identify current and projected accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers who reside in the four Boroughs;
¾ to provide evidence of housing and site needs to support an accommodation strategy for Gypsies and Travellers;
¾ to inform the housing strategy and planning framework for the four District Councils on the same basis as other sectors of the community.
1.1.2 The methodology developed for the study has evolved over the study period, in line with developing guidance issued by Government. The report was commissioned before Guidance was issued in February 2006. This report is consistent with the latest guidance issued by ODPM in February 2006.
1.1.3 This study was commissioned jointly by the 4 local authorities. Guidance clearly recommends that Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments be carried out at a sub regional level in order to achieve:-
¾ a bigger sample and hence more accurate results, and a better understanding of needs across administrative boundaries;
¾ a better understanding of the travelling patterns, particularly where they cross administrative boundaries;
¾ a common approach and consistency across the study area;
¾ economies of cost and scale;
¾ reduce the risk of double counting;
¾ opportunities to work together to devise a strategic approach to Gypsy and Traveller accommodation shortages and enforcement against unauthorised sites.
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1.2 Methodology 1.2.1 The aim of the study was to conduct a minimum of 150 interviews with Gypsy and Traveller households across the study area. 1.2.2 Following a period of extensive community consultation on the survey questionnaire the first phase of fieldwork for the study took place from Monday 26th September to Friday 7th October 2005, phase 2 between 31 May and 21 July 2006. 200 face to face interviews were achieved, 171 on sites and 29 in bricks and mortar accommodation. 1.2.3 The number of Gypsy and Traveller households living on sites in the study area was estimated by comparing the July 2005 caravan count for caravans on authorised sites and the average over the 3 July counts from 2003 – 2005 for unauthorised sites, against the number of living units per household (as identified in the survey). This led us to a total of 163 households living on authorised sites and 56 on unauthorised sites (these were almost all unauthorised developments by gypsies and travellers on their own land, rather than unauthorised encampments). This was also the basis for weighting the data within each local authority area.
1.2.4 Table 1-1 compares the estimated number of households to the number of interviews actually achieved during the fieldwork period.
1.2.5 On this basis the response rate on Authorised sites was 82.2% and 66% on Unauthorised sites, a very high rate overall even for households living in general housing, where 65% would be an average and 50% in London. Table 1-1 Estimated Number Of Households Living On Sites, Compared To The Number Of Interviews Achieved Estimated number of Number of interviews
households achieved Unauthorised Unauthorised Authorised (UDs and Authorised (UDs and UEs) UEs) Nos % Nos % Nos % Nos % Ashford 36 22.1 7 12.5 36 26.9 7 18.9 Maidstone 89 54.6 19 33.9 62 46.3 19 51.4 Tonbridge and Malling 23 14.1 21 37.5 21 15.7 2 5.4 Tunbridge Wells 15 9.2 9 16.1 15 11.1 9 24.3 Total 163 100.0 56 100.0 134 100.0 37 100.0
1.3 Key Findings from the Survey 1.3.1 Type of Travellers 1.3.2 The survey found that 93.3% of those living on sites and all of those who were housed were Romany English or English Travellers. Only 14 Irish Traveller households are implied by the survey findings. 1.3.3 19.6% of site based respondents were living on sites within Ashford, 49.4% in Maidstone, 10.9% in Tunbridge Wells and 20.1% in Tonbridge and Malling. 1.3.4 Respondents living in bricks and mortar were well spread across the survey area with 14 living in Tonbridge and Malling, 5 in Ashford, 5 in Maidstone and 5 in Tunbridge Wells.
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1.4 Adequacy and Satisfaction 1.4.1 50.7% of households indicated that their site or pitch was adequate for their needs; 85.9% indicated that their accommodation was adequate, a far higher level of adequacy compared to those living in housed / settled accommodation (55.2%). 1.4.2 Marginally more households living on unauthorised sites were found to be very satisfied or satisfied with their site compared to those living on authorised sites. As can be seen in Table 1-2 below, the difference between authorised and unauthorised sites was fairly marginal. Table 1-2 Level Of Satisfaction With Site Question 4 by Question 38 Satisfaction Levels Authorised Sites Unauthorised Sites Very Satisfied 48.4 41.1 Satisfied 24.5 48.2 Neutral 4.4 0.0 Dissatisfied 11.9 3.6 Very Dissatisfied 10.8 7.1 100.0 100.0
1.4.3 Households living on sites within the study area were found to have a higher level of access to basic facilities than in our other recent survey experience. All respondents had access to an external water supply with 54.6% of respondents having sole access. 84% had sole access to a WC. 92.8% had sole access to kitchen facilities. 1.4.4 Respondents were asked about the health and safety concerns that they had, as shown in Figure 1-1 below. Fire prevention issues were a significant concern for respondents living on site (47%), followed by vermin (20.6%). The majority of responses to the ‘other’ category were concerned about blocked or poor drainage and awaited repairs. Percentages in Figure 1-1 do not add up to 100% as it was a multiple choice question, therefore respondents have given multiple responses. Figure 1-1 Site Health and Safety Concerns
Rubbish Close to road, collection, 6.0% Close to pylons, 5.3% 2.1% Lack of washing facilities, 8.3% Other, 77.2%
Far from doctors, 12.5%
Overcrowding, 14.5% Fire prevention, 47.5%
Vermin, 20.6%
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1.4.5 14.5% of respondents living on sites had concerns about overcrowding within their accommodation (7 households). As well as the pressure of family numbers within the accommodation this could also relate to the space available for living, including the pressure of new forming households, or to the need for more storage space. Our data would suggest that concealed households are in fact causing little pressure; we identified only 11 households currently living on sites with a concealed household, none of these households identified themselves as being overcrowded. Average household size was just 2.1 people. The data did not allow us to cross-tabulate this to the question on overcrowding. In addition we identified 23 households requiring additional space for work storage.
1.5 Travel Patterns and Moving Plans 1.5.1 The Gypsy and Traveller community in the study area are well settled within the sub region. 65.6% of households living on sites had lived at their current base for more than 5 years; 73.7% had not travelled in the last 12 months. “Way of life” was the most common reason given for travelling. Of those who had lived elsewhere, 76.7% had previously lived within Kent. 1.5.2 Levels of eviction are also low, 16 households had been evicted in the last 12 months. The majority had left voluntarily. 1.5.3 67% of households living on sites had no plans to move. The majority of those who did plan to move were doing so because their site was temporary or because they disliked the area. 6 households would consider moving from a site to bricks and mortar accommodation.
1.6 Access to Healthcare and Education 1.6.1 40.2% of households living on sites said they had one or more school age children in school and 8.7% said they had one or more school age children who were not in school. The data suggested that households living on sites were more likely than those in permanent housing to have school age children who did not attend school. 1.6.2 18 households on sites reported difficulties with schooling because of their accommodation / site. Of those, 3 had difficulty getting a place, 13 had disrupted schooling due to their mobility and 2 were afraid to send their children due to local hostility. 3 households had moved in the last 12 months in order to access schools. 1.6.3 90.5% of households living on sites were registered with a doctor, this compared to 96% of those living in permanent housing.
1.7 Harassment / Eviction 1.7.1 20.5% of households currently living on a site had experienced harassment at their current site, compared to 24.1% in housing. 23.9% of those currently living on a site had left accommodation as a result of harassment at some time, compared to 20.7% of those in housing. The level of harassment reported by Gypsy and Traveller households in the study area was marginally higher than that found in other recent BME and Gypsy and Traveller housing needs assessments, for example in East Sussex (DCA 2005) we found 15.8% of respondents had experienced harassment in their current home. 1.7.2 48.7% of those currently living on a site and 75.9% of those in housing said they would take harassment into consideration when deciding to move again. 1.7.3 55 households who had travelled in the last 12 months were asked if they had been evicted. 29.8% (16 cases) had been evicted from a site in the last 12 months. All apart from one had left the site voluntarily, this family had been moved on by the police.
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1.8 Disability 1.8.1 40 households in permanent accommodation had a member with a disability or long term illness (18.2%). 15 households living on sites included a member needing regular medical treatment from a doctor or hospital. 1.8.2 The adaptations required by households in both sites and permanent housing included ramps outside, handrails, other alterations for access, and bath / shower / toilet adaptations. 5 households living on sites included a wheelchair user within their household. There were no wheelchair users within the housed sample.
1.9 Concealed Households 1.9.1 11 households currently living on a site indicated that they had a family member who would be looking for independent accommodation in the next three years. 1.9.2 Those requiring independent accommodation were asked what type of accommodation they would be looking for and which area they wanted to move to. Preference on the type of accommodation was one case wanting a house / bungalow / flat and 10 wanting a site. 1.9.3 No households living in permanent housing indicated that they had a family member who would be looking for independent accommodation in the next three years.
1.10 Ideal Accommodation 1.10.1 Those living on sites were asked what would be their ideal type of site. 73.8% of respondents said their ideal site is private permanent site, whilst 22.7% would prefer to live on a public permanent site. 1.10.2 Housed respondents were asked for their ideas of what would make their ideal site. Of 28 respondents 10 (35.7%) said they would prefer a touring caravan / trailer on a public permanent site and 10 (35.7%) would prefer a touring caravan / trailer on a private permanent site. 1.10.3 Both households living on sites and in bricks and mortar accommodation would prefer to live on smaller sites, over 50% would prefer 10 or fewer pitches on their site.
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1.11 Recommendations Based On The Data 1.11.1 Our needs assessment model (see section 5 of this report) identifies a need for 64 additional authorised permanent site pitches across the study area over the next 5 years, in addition to a continued supply of 6 per year from pitch turnover. This will meet both the backlog of existing need expressed through unauthorised encampments and developments, and new family formation. 1.11.2 Maidstone has a high level of unauthorised sites along side a strong supply of authorised sites, and over the past 3 years has made a significant contribution to increasing the supply of authorised pitches locally (10 per year). There is a need for future growth in supply to be accommodated in all areas, in line with preferences expressed through the survey. Work patterns are found to be spread evenly across the sub area and ideal locations are also spread across the sub area. Cross district working will be essential to achieve a balance of sites across the sub region to meet needs over the next 5 years. 1.11.3 There is clear support in our interview sample for more privately owned sites, 73% of respondents said their ideal site would be a private authorised site. Planners should take account of the high level of Gypsy and Traveller satisfaction with private sites and the locational preferences expressed through the survey and based on travel and working patterns as well as overall preferences for sites in particular districts when considering applications. Preference is for smaller sites in countryside locations. This raises significant issues in planning terms. 1.11.4 Although planning applications appear to be fairly successful in line with ODPM Guidance ‘Planning for Gypsy and Caravan Sites’ February 2006, relations between the community and planning department could be further developed to support the Gypsy and Traveller community through the applications process. 1.11.5 The survey found a fairly high level of satisfaction with sites, although some issues were raised over health and safety suggesting a need to improve the procedure for regular inspection of sites, covering the provision of basic facilities including water and sanitation and health and safety. All sites should be effectively managed. 1.11.6 The educational needs of children on sites, as for all other children in Kent, are currently addressed through the education department. The study found children living on sites are more likely to be missing school or having problems accessing education. New sites should be developed with access to local facilities in mind. Recommendations for improving access to education should be developed by the Children, Families and Education Directorate of Kent County Council in consultation with the community. 1.11.7 Employment and training is a priority for the community. Given the high level of self- employment and its likely connection with irregular income, there may be a need to provide information and advice to the Gypsy and Traveller community in consultation with the benefits agency. 1.11.8 Allegations of harassment appear to be significant and needs to be addressed in partnership with the community and the police. There may be a need to develop relationships with the police to tackle issues of harassment. 1.11.9 While there is clearly demand for more and improved sites there is also a demand for permanent housing, see section 3.11 and 4.11 Information and advice on local housing options needs to be made available to the community. 1.11.10 The demand for transit provision has not been assessed through the survey. Local management data is being collected on unauthorised developments and movement through the area. This data should be analysed locally to develop plans for future transit need.
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1.11.11 Maidstone has a very high level of unauthorised development along side a strong supply of authorised sites, and over the past 3 years has made a significant contribution to increasing the supply of authorised pitches locally (10 per year). There is a need for future growth in supply to be accommodated in all areas, in line with preferences expressed through the survey. In terms of planned future moves we identified 17 households wanting to move, 5 are moving within Ashford and 1 to Maidstone from Tonbridge and Malling and 11 from Tonbridge and Malling to locations “elsewhere in the south east”. Work patterns are found to be spread evenly across the sub area and ideal locations are also spread across the sub area. Cross district working will be essential to achieve a balance of sites across the sub region to meet needs over the next 5 years. 1.11.12 New sites should be located in areas considered appropriate for general residential use, and with access to local services and facilities, within existing communities. Planning applications should be considered on their merits in the context of land use, applicable policies, site size and location, and the population density of the surrounding area. 1.11.13 The accommodation needs and preferences of the travelling community need to be clearly understood. This report provides an indication of the overall need for site accommodation across the study area, there will need to be further debate on the exact location of new sites.
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2 INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 DCA was appointed in 2005 to carry out a Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessment for the four Districts. On appointment draft guidance was in development. Guidance is still in development with DCLG. Adjustments have been made to the analysis and in particular in development of the needs assessment model in section 5 of this report to take account of latest guidance from DCLG (February 2006).
2.1.2 Draft practice guidance on Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments was released by ODPM in February 2006, local authorities were advised to follow the draft guidance for the time being. There is a strong emphasis on the requirement for local authorities to work alongside one another sub-regionally to analyse surrounding housing markets and assess the scale of demand and need for accommodation.
2.1.3 The need to evaluate the needs and requirements of key specialist groups within an area / sub-region is becoming ever more apparent with a strong emphasis on acquiring information on a range of specialist groups within the sub-region, some of whose needs are met on a County-wide basis.
2.1.4 In line with draft guidance the sample consisted of Gypsies and Travellers who are housed or living on unauthorised or authorised sites within the sub region comprising Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.
2.2 Aims & Objectives
2.2.1 The overall framework for the Study:-
¾ initial discussion with District Council and County Council Officers re current data base and fieldwork strategy;
¾ fieldwork to achieve 150 interviews as a minimum but adequate to provide statistically valid information on the different groups within this community and data provided by District Council area;
¾ analysis of both primary and secondary data;
¾ analysis of Planning Policies and Housing Strategies relating to this group;
¾ assess current and projected need for sites over the next 5 years taking account of turnover rates and waiting list data provided by District Councils;
¾ provide recommendations on:-
− scale and type of need for accommodation in general and sites in particular,
− locational demand / supply,
− strategic and policy implications for planning and housing departments.
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2.3 Definition of Need
2.3.1 The definition of need for Gypsy and Traveller households takes as its starting point the understanding of “housing needs” as defined in Housing Market Assessment draft guidance (December 2005):
“Households who lack their own housing or live in unsuitable housing and who cannot afford to meet their need in the housing market”
2.3.2 DCLG draft Planning Policy Statement 3 similarly defines housing need as: “Households who are unable to access suitable housing without some financial assistance” 2.3.3 In conventional (bricks and mortar) housing need assessments “demand” is defined in market terms as the quantity of housing that households are willing or able to rent or buy. The conventional definition of need and demand relies heavily on an assessment of affordability and an understanding of the “market” for accommodation within the study area. 2.3.4 In terms of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs the standard definition of needs requires some adjustment to take account of those households:- ¾ Who have no authorised site on which to reside; ¾ Whose existing site accommodation is overcrowded or unsuitable and are unable to obtain more suitable accommodation;
¾ Who contain suppressed households who are unable to set up separate family units, and are unable to access a place on an authorised site, or to afford land to develop one. 2.3.5 Draft guidance on Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments also recognises that there may be no real “market” in sites as supply is generally very limited and low income and local hostility to the travelling community may effectively restrict the ability of Gypsy and Traveller households to exercise a free choice in the accommodation market. 2.3.6 Finally the standard definition of housing needs relies heavily on an assessment of affordability, which in turn depends on accurate data on household incomes related to market costs.
2.4 Definition of Gypsy and Traveller Household 2.4.1 The definition of the term “Gypsy and Traveller” for the purposes of the 2004 Housing Act is set out in a consultation paper issued by DCLG in February 2006, which closed in April 2006. 2.4.2 There are currently separate definitions of Gypsies and Travellers, a planning definition that seeks to define Gypsies and Travellers in quite a closed context specifically for the purposes of regulating the use and development of land. As such the planning definition is limited to those who can demonstrate a specific land use requirement arising from their nomadic lifestyle. There is also a housing definition; this is broader, and intended to be a pragmatic definition enabling local authorities to understand the possible future accommodation needs of this group.
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2.4.3 The planning definition specifically excludes organised groups of show people, and travelling circus people, whose needs are addressed under a separate planning circular (22/91 Travelling Show people); this group is not specifically excluded from the housing definition. 2.4.4 The planning definition now covers:-
“Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ education or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people travelling together as such.”
2.4.5 The proposed, likely to be adopted, housing definition is:-
“Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ education or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism and / or caravan dwelling but not excluding members of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people travelling together as such.”
2.4.6 Government recognises that it may not always be clear-cut whether a particular group falls within the housing definition, however, Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments are now being carried out alongside general housing needs and market assessments as a requirement of Section 8 of the 1985 Housing Act, if a particular group is not assessed under Section 225 (Gypsy and Traveller assessment) they will need to be included as part of the wider section 8 requirement.
2.5 Methodology
2.5.1 The aim of the study was to conduct a minimum of 150 interviews with Gypsy and Traveller households across the study area. Each council provided DCA, in strict confidence, with an address file of housed Gypsies and Travellers and details of those living on authorised and unauthorised sites. 2.5.2 The actual number of interviews achieved depended on a number of factors, including the willingness of households to take part and the level of unauthorised activity during the fieldwork period. 2.5.3 The first phase of fieldwork took place between Monday 26th September to Friday 7th October 2005 and achieved a total of 153 interviews across the study area. A second phase of interviews was carried out between 31st May and 21st July 2006 to provide additional information from Maidstone. 47 interviews were completed in Maidstone, the data has been merged with the first phase to provide a total of 200 interviews across the study area. 2.5.4 Once all the interviews were completed it was clear that some districts had achieved a better response rate than others. In order to address this, and eliminate any bias the data has been weighted at a sub area level to reflect the number of households identified on authorised sites in the July 2005 Caravan Count, and the number of households identified on unauthorised sites on average over the last 3 July Caravan Counts. Further detail on the data weighting is provided in Appendix III
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2.5.5 The Caravan Count gave us a starting point in estimating how many interviews might be achieved in each area. The estimated number of households is based on the average number of caravans per household in each local authority area, as reflected in our survey.
Table 2-1 Caravan Count Compared To Estimated Number Of Households Living On Sites. Estimated number of Caravan Count households Caravans on Caravans on UEs and UDs Authorised average over 3 Authorised Unauthorised sites July years (July 03 / 2005 04 / 05) Nos. % Nos. % Nos % Nos % Ashford 80 25.5 6 8.0 36 22.1 7 12.5 Maidstone 169 54.0 27 36.0 89 54.6 19 33.9 Tonbridge and 41 13.1 32 42.7 23 14.1 21 37.5 Malling Tunbridge 23 7.4 10 13.3 15 9.2 9 16.1 Wells Total 313 100.0 75 100.0 163 100.0 56 100.0
2.5.6 A specific questionnaire to identify the housing needs of this community was agreed in consultation with all four authorities and Kent County Council, and was very squarely based on a questionnaire agreed for East Sussex in which Gypsy and Traveller organisations operating in Kent had been closely involved. This followed a period of extensive consultation and feedback from officers and community members to ensure that an effective questionnaire was devised to assess the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers within the survey area. The questionnaire also covered health, education and employment issues. 2.5.7 Millfield Services, an independent interview company, were commissioned to conduct the fieldwork by David Couttie Associates (DCA). Millfield Services were provided with the questionnaire by DCA. Millfield Services produced field materials as well as preparing a field ready version of the questionnaire for distribution to interviewers. 2.5.8 A letter explaining the survey was sent or hand delivered to houses and sites across the four authority areas. Each authority devised their own letter and arranged their own method of delivery. 2.5.9 Since July 2005, various meetings were organised to discuss the approaches and methods which best assist in identifying the circumstances and needs of these Gypsy and Traveller communities. In-depth consultation and training has been put in place to ensure that the Gypsy and Traveller community have been adequately consulted throughout the project. 2.5.10 Letters were also sent out to the Gypsy and Traveller community inviting households to take part in the study, during the fieldwork process we found that housed Travellers who agreed to take part in the study introduced the interviewers to other housed Travellers, and those living on sites encouraged others to take part in the survey.
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2.6 Response Rate 2.6.1 The breakdown of the number of interviews carried out with Gypsies and Travellers on sites in each area is shown in Table 2-2 below. 2.6.2 The response rate on Authorised sites was 82.2% and 66% on Unauthorised sites, a very high rate overall even for households living in general housing, where 65% would be an average and 50% in London. Table 2-2 Estimated Number Of Households Living On Sites, Compared To The Number Of Interviews Achieved Estimated number of Number of interviews
households achieved Unauthoris Authorised Authorised Unauthorised ed Nos % Nos % Nos % Nos % Ashford 36 22.1 7 12.536 26.9 7 18.9 Maidstone 89 54.6 19 33.962 46.3 19 51.4 Tonbridge and 23 14.1 21 37.5 21 15.7 2 5.4 Malling Tunbridge 15 9.2 9 16.1 15 11.1 9 24.3 Wells Total 163 100.0 56 100.0134 100.0 37 100.0
2.7 Millfield Quality Control 2.7.1 All Millfield interviewers working on this project attended cultural awareness training. The cultural awareness session was a full day event focusing on the specific cultural issues of the Irish Travellers and English and Romany Travellers. The session was carried out by experts in the field and Travellers themselves 2.7.2 All interviewers taking part in the study were subject to a CRB check prior to fieldwork commencing. 2.7.3 Millfield Services always conduct a minimum 10% ‘back check’. In doing this, they can guarantee the validity of all interviews completed and ensure that high standards are met. Mill Field Services check that the interview took place, verify the answers to key questions and check that the respondent was happy with the way the interview was carried out.
2.8 Study Outputs 2.8.1 In line with latest draft guidance on Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (February 2006) data has been gathered and analysed at a sub regional level. The analysis provides robust data for sub regional planning, providing 95% confidence to within +/- 4.67%. 2.8.2 In line with latest draft guidance on Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (February 2006: paragraph 42) data tables will be provided to each local authority showing the findings broken down by local authority area. These will be provided both in SNAP / Excel and in PDF as a copy of the data tables. The data remains robust at a local level; however the statistical validity of the data broken down at a local level will depend on the response rate locally. Table 2-2 above shows a very high level of response in Ashford and Tunbridge Wells, with 75% of known households interviewed in Maidstone and 52.3% in Tonbridge and Malling giving a high level of confidence in the results at a local level.
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2.8.3 This report produces a global figure identifying the need for additional permanent authorised site pitches across the study area. Our recommendations also cover:- ¾ The apportioning of sites between local authorities based on our findings on current migration patterns and preferred and ideal locations. 2.8.4 Decisions on the exact location of sites across the sub region will ultimately be a matter for local debate, supported by local and sub regional plans and strategies and our robust Accommodation Needs Assessment. It is our view that local Development Schemes and Local Development Documents setting out local policies for site allocation will be more defensible if supported by a sub regional strategy for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs.
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3 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING ON SITE
3.1 Current Accommodation 3.1.1 219 households were identified as living on sites within the study area, 163 on authorised sites and 56 on unauthorised sites. The total number of households was derived from the caravan count, adjusted to reflect the number of caravans per household as identified in the survey. 3.1.2 171 site based interviews were completed, 134 on authorised sites and 37 on unauthorised sites. The site based data was then weighted to reflect the total number of households in the study area. The findings below show the weighted survey results, and the number of “implied” respondents to each questions. The total number of respondents varies between questions based on the number of respondents. 3.1.3 We found that 49.4% (108) of the site based sample were living on sites in Maidstone, 19.6% in Ashford (43), 20.1% in Tonbridge & Malling (44) and 10.9% in Tunbridge Wells (24). Of the total 163 households lived on authorised sites, 56 were on unauthorised developments. Table 3-1 Area % Nos. Ashford 19.6 43 Maidstone 49.4 108 Tonbridge & Malling 20.1 44 Tunbridge Wells 10.9 24 Total 100.0 219
Table 3-2 Accommodation % Nos. Temporary 24.2 52 Permanent 75.8 162 A care-of address 0.0 0 Total 100.0 214 3.1.4 214 implied households responded to the question asking if they were living in temporary or permanent accommodation. Of respondents living on sites 162 (75.8%) were living in permanent accommodation, 24.2% (52) in temporary accommodation. Table 3-3 Type of Gypsy / Traveller Of those on sites Of all respondents % Nos. % Romany Gypsy or English Traveller 93.3 194 94.1 Irish Traveller 6.7 14 5.9 Total 100.0 208 100.0
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3.1.5 All Gypsy and traveller groups were included in the survey questionnaire although not all groups were identified during the study. The survey found that of those responding to the question 93.3% of Gypsy and traveller families living on sites were Romany Gypsy or English Travellers, with 6.7% Irish Travellers. The data suggests a similar proportion of Romany / English Gypsies on sites compared to the sample as a whole. Showpeople were specifically excluded from the study as they were not covered by the planning definition of Gypsy and Traveller at the time of the study. West Kent authorities plan to carry out a separate study of the needs of travelling Showpeople to comply with the latest definition of Gypsy and Traveller (January 2007). 3.1.6 The ability of Gypsy and Traveller families to maintain their traditional life style is very much dependent on the availability of sites. The high proportion of authorised sites within the study area is enabling Gypsy and Traveller families to live on site rather than in permanent housing. 3.1.7 Respondents were asked what type of accommodation they had at this site or elsewhere. Households who had vehicles or living accommodation elsewhere stated one had a house, one a touring caravan on a permanent site and one a vehicle elsewhere. Of those living on a site 68.1% were in a mobile home on a permanent site (149 households), 18 households had more than one mobile home on a permanent site. 3.1.8 53 households (24.2%) had a touring caravan / trailer on a permanent site. 8.2% (18 households) were in a touring caravan / trailer on a transit site. 98 households (44.7%) had additional vehicles on the site, 33 households had vans on the site and 8 had work vehicles on the site. 3.1.9 8 implied households indicated that they were not living in their main accommodation. When asked where their main accommodation is located 1 household from Ashford said their main accommodation was also in Ashford and 6 from Maidstone said their main accommodation was also in Maidstone. 1 household from Maidstone said their main accommodation was outside the UK. 3.1.10 All households were then asked if their accommodation and their site was adequate for their needs. Table 3-4 Is This Place Adequate for Your Needs? Question 2 Site or pitch Accommodation Response Response % (of 214) % (of 184) Nos. Nos. Adequate 50.7 136 85.9 158 Not adequate (lack of poor facilities) 17.3 37 4.9 9 Not adequate (other) 12.1 26 1.6 3 Temporary 10.0 24 1.1 2 Not adequate (needs repair work) 7.5 16 2.2 4 Not adequate (security) 5.1 11 3.8 7 Not adequate (too small) 6.1 13 9.8 18 Not adequate (harassment) 1.9 4 0 0 Not adequate (want to travel again) 0.5 1 0.5 1 Total 268 202
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3.1.11 214 implied households responded to the question asking if their site / pitch was adequate. 50.7% said it was adequate (136). Of the 78 households saying their pitch or site was inadequate, 37(47.4%) said the facilities were poor. Those saying their site or pitch was inadequate gave an average of 1.3 reasons for inadequacy. 3.1.12 184 implied households responded to the following question asking if their accommodation was adequate. 85.9% said it was adequate (158). Of those saying their accommodation was inadequate (26 households), 18 (69.2%) said it was too small. 3.1.13 Households living on a site or pitch were asked a set of questions relating to their circumstances. Table 3-5 What Is The Tenure Of Your Current Site? Question 3a Tenure of households living on a site % Nos. Council / RSL owned authorised site 41.3 88 Family owned authorised site 35.8 77 Family owned without planning permission (UD) 13.0 28 Privately owned – unauthorised site (UE) 5.1 11 Other 4.3 9 Council owned land – unauthorised site (UE) 0.5 1 Total 100.0 214 3.1.14 214 implied households responded to the question on tenure of the site. 88 households (41.3%) live on a Council / RSL site, 35.8% on an authorised private site. There is a low level of unauthorised camping with only 28 households living on unauthorised developments and 12 on unauthorised encampments during the study period. 3.1.15 Stopping without permission in areas causes inconvenience and anger within the settled community who do not understand why Gypsies and Travellers are not immediately evicted (Select Committee of ODPM report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2004). Although the police and local authorities have extensive powers to move people on from unauthorised sites, they are unwilling to do this, unless ideally they have first identified a legal place to move them on to. The Government response to the Select Committee recommendations stated: “We recognise that problems connected with unauthorised encampments are also partially, though by no means entirely, related to the lack of legal sites. We have set out elsewhere in this response the measures we are taking to increase site provision. We would also encourage local authorities and those on unauthorised encampments to work together to ensure that these encampments do not cause problems”. 3.1.16 Gypsy and Traveller families are statutorily homeless under the 1996 Housing Act if the have accommodation but: “it consists of a movable structure , vehicle or vessel designed or adapted for human habitation and there is no legal place he is entitled or permitted both to place it and reside in it”. If they have other accommodation, the applicant needs to show why it would not be reasonable for them to occupy it. 3.1.17 Our survey identified 56 households (Table 2-1 above) currently living on unauthorised sites, or unauthorised developments within the study area, this compares to 29 caravans on tolerated sites and 68 on unauthorised encampments at the July 2005 Caravan Count. On the basis of this definition a significant homelessness problem would appear to exist, although this will only be recorded if families are declaring themselves as homeless.
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Table 3-6 What Amenities Do You Currently Have Access To? Question 3b Total % Sole Household % Shared Household household use Nos. use Nos. Nos. Gas (bottled) 90.8 199 4.6 7 206 Space for eating or sitting 92.6 203 5.8 9 212 Kitchen facilities 92.8 204 7.0 11 215 WC 84.0 184 16.7 22 206 Shower 72.5 159 11.9 19 178 Laundry facilities 61.1 134 34.0 55 189 Shed / amenity building 52.8 116 35.3 57 173 Water Supply (external) 54.6 120 62.6 100 219 Electricity supply (mains) 52.6 115 51.7 83 198 Fire prevention 45.6 100 35.4 57 157 Bath 40.6 89 11.0 18 107 Space for animals 44.0 97 39.3 63 160 Play space 42.2 93 48.6 78 171 Parking 44.4 97 72.7 117 214 Space for visitors 38.5 84 26.8 43 127 Equipment storage 34.1 75 29.9 48 123 Work space 30.8 68 31.7 51 119 Rubbish storage/collection 39.0 86 78.3 126 212 (council supplied) Electricity supply (generator) 1.8 4 5.3 8 12 Gas (mains) 2.1 4 1.2 2 6 Rubbish storage/collection 7.7 17 8.9 14 31 (privately supplied) Other 1.8 4 0.0 0 4
3.1.18 All 219 implied households responded to the question indicating sole use of facilities, 160 (73%) indicated shared use. 50.6% of the group indicated in question 2 that their site was adequate. The following question on access to facilities revealed a higher level of access to basic facilities on sites in the survey area than in our other recent survey experience. All respondents had access to an external water supply with 54.6% of respondents having sole access. 84% had sole access to a WC. 92.8% had sole access to kitchen facilities. 3.1.19 Respondents were also asked what amenities they do not have access to. Based on responses from 190 implied households, the survey revealed that 30.2% did not have access to fire prevention facilities. 42% had no space to accommodate visitors, 48.5% had no work space and 47.7% had no space to store equipment, as set out in Table 3-7 below.
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3.1.20 The high level of access to facilities reflect the high proportion of households living on authorised sites.
Table 3-7 What Amenities Do You Currently NOT Have Access To? Question 3b % Nos. Gas (mains) 76.9 146 Electricity supply (generator) 65.8 125 Rubbish storage/collection (privately supplied) 63.4 120 Rubbish storage/collection (Council supplied) 1.8 3 Bath 49.6 94 Equipment storage 47.7 90 Space for visitors 42.0 80 Work space 48.5 92 Fire prevention 30.2 57 Space for animals 25.9 49 Shed / amenity building 18.8 36 Laundry facilities 14.9 28 Play space 21.2 40 Shower 15.4 29 Electricity supply (mains) 12.1 23 Gas (bottled) 5.9 11 Parking 9.5 18 Space for eating or sitting 1.8 3 Water Supply (external) 1.8 3 WC 0.5 1 Kitchen facilities 0.5 1
Table 3-8 How Would You Rate Your Current Site? Question 4 % Nos.
Very satisfied 46.6 100
Satisfied 30.7 66
Neutral 3.3 7
Dissatisfied 9.7 21
Very dissatisfied 9.7 21
Total 100.0 215
3.1.21 Based on responses from 215 implied households, 77.3% of respondents living on a site were very satisfied or satisfied with their site.
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3.1.22 A cross tabulation looked at the tenure of the site compared to level of satisfaction, we found that 62.8% of all respondents living on authorised Council sites were satisfied or very satisfied. 91% of respondents living on family sites with planning permission were satisfied or very satisfied. Table 3-9 Do You Have Any Worries About Question 5 Health And Safety At This Site? % Nos. Yes 23.3 50 No 76.7 163 Total 100.0 213
3.1.23 23.3% (50) of respondents had worries about health and safety on their site. 81.2% of those with a health and safety worry lived on an authorised site owned by the Council (40 cases), 3 on an authorised private site, one on an unauthorised development, 1 on an unauthorised encampment, and 4 on “other” sites. 3.1.24 The following question asked what worries people had about health and safety; of those with a concern an average of 2 responses was made per household. The main response was ‘other’ which broke down to poor site drainage and awaited repairs. The largest single worry was fire prevention issues (23 households).
Table 3-10 What Are Your Worries About Health And Safety? Question 6 % of 48 Nos. respondents Other 77.2 37 Fire prevention issues 47.5 23 Vermin 20.6 10 Overcrowding 14.5 7 Far from doctors 12.5 6 Lack of washing facilities 8.3 4 Rubbish collection 6.0 3 Close to road 5.3 3 Close to pylons 2.1 1 Total 94 3.1.25 A further breakdown of health and safety issues by district is provided in the data tables. The key issues at a district level were as follows: ¾ Ashford: distance from doctors and lack of washing / shower facilities. ¾ Maidstone: fire prevention issues. ¾ Tonbridge and Malling: Fire prevention issues and vermin. ¾ Tunbridge Wells: Fire prevention issues and overcrowding 3.1.26 All households were asked how long they had lived in their current accommodation, 216 households responded. 65.6% (141) of the group had lived in their current accommodation for more than 5 years. Only 10.7% (23) had lived in their current home for less than a year. Our findings are consistent with the high proportion of respondents living on authorised sites where we would expect to find a more settled community.
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Table 3-11 How Long Have You Lived Here? Question 7 % Nos. A day or two 0.0 0 Less than one week 5.3 12 Less than one month 0.0 0 Less than 3 months 3.0 6 Less than 6 months 1.6 4 6 months but less than 1 year 0.5 1 1 year but less than 5 years 24.0 52 5 years and over 65.6 141 Total 100.0 216
3.1.27 Respondents were asked about the good and bad things about where they lived. In terms of the good things, all 219 implied households responded, making an average of 6.6 responses each compared to 6.7 responses for those living in permanent accommodation. The most positive aspects were the accommodation (73.9%) and location (71.7%), access to doctor was also important with 64.6% saying this was a good thing about where they live. 3.1.28 There was a lower response rate when considering the bad things about the area (64.8%), with respondents living on sites making an average of 1.4 responses each. The single main concern was amenities on the site (30 cases), 27 people mentioned the temporary nature of their accommodation / stopping place. 67 responses indicated “other” bad things about where they live, 45 of whom gave no specific details. Table 3-12 What Are The Good / Bad Things About Where You Live Now? Question 8a %Good Nos. %Bad Nos. Accommodation 73.9 162 5.7 8 Neighbourhood 48.8 107 2.9 4 Neighbours / other people 52.1 114 7.4 11 Location 71.7 157 0.0 0 Access to shops 61.9 136 9.6 14 Access to doctors 64.6 142 8.3 12 Access to schools 57.4 126 6.2 9 Access to work 48.7 107 3.0 4 Access to family 66.7 146 3.0 4 Amenities on site 47.3 104 21.0 30 Surrounding environment 63.6 139 6.6 9 Other 4.0 9 47.2 67 Temporary stopping place / 1.4 3 19.2 27 accommodation Total 1,452 199
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Table 3-13 Do You Have A Base/Site/Pitch/Regular Stopping Place /Home/ Question 8b Somewhere Else? % Nos. Yes 1.4 3 No 98.6 209 Total 100.0 212 3.1.29 Only 3 implied respondents had a base / site / pitch or regular stopping place / home elsewhere. Some caution is advised with this data as evidence from Planning appeal cases and unauthorised encampment cases suggests that those households may be reluctant to disclose other accommodation. 3.1.30 Only one household indicated the location of another base, this was within the UK but outside the South East, 3 said this was an unauthorised encampment in a village location.
3.2 Travel Patterns 3.2.1 All households were asked if they were willing to answer questions about their travelling patterns. This section gives details of the travelling behaviour of gypsies and travellers currently living on sites in the sample. Table 3-14 How Much Travelling Have You Done In The Last 12 Months? Question 9a No of % households None 73.7 160 Seasonal 12.9 28 Weekly 0.7 1 Monthly 1.8 4 When forced to move on 5.8 13 Other 5.1 11 Total 100.0 217 3.2.2 217 implied households responded, 73.7% of households currently living on a site have not travelled in the last 12 months, this compares to 87.5% of those in permanent housing. 26.3% of respondents travel (57 households), of whom 49% travel seasonally. Of those who had travelled in the last 12 months, 52.6% had travelled five or more times.
Table 3-15 Of Those Who Said They Had Travelled, How Many Times Have You Gone Travelling In The Last Months? Question 9b % Nos. Once 12.1 7 Twice 8.7 5 Three times 18.7 10 Four times 7.9 4 Five or more times 52.6 29 Total 100.0 55
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Table 3-16 When You Travel, How Many Households Travel Together? Question 9c % Households Nos. Own household only 57.8 32 Two households 10.5 6 Three households 18.4 10 Four households 1.8 1 Five or more households 11.5 6 Total 100.0 55
Table 3-17 When You Travel How Many Vehicles Travel Together? Question 9b % Vehicles Nos. One 37.5 15 Two 26.5 11 Three 5.5 2 Four 5.5 2 Five 2.5 1 Six 12.5 5 Seven 0.0 0 Eight 2.5 1 Nine 0.0 0 Ten 0.0 0 Eleven 0.0 0 Twelve 7.5 3 Thirteen or more 0.0 0 Total 100.0 40
3.2.3 An average of 1.9 households are travelling together with 3.3 vehicles. The data shows households living on sites tend to travel in larger groups and with more vehicles than those living in permanent accommodation. Table 3-18 Do You Travel Regularly At This Time of Year or At Other Question 9c Times? This time of year Other times % Nos. % Nos. Yes 87.5 47 64.8 24 No 12.5 7 35.2 13 Total 100.0 54 100.0 37
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3.2.4 Of the 54 implied households responding 87.5% (47) said that they travel regularly at this time of year (interviews carried out in July and September); of 37 implied households responding 64.8% (24) travel regularly at other times. Those who travel regularly were asked the main reason for their travelling. Table 3-19 What Are The Main Reasons For Travelling? Question 9d This time of year Other times % Nos. % Nos. Way of life 66.9 35 83.5 30 Holiday 25.6 13 17.8 6 Family event 29.4 15 37.4 13 Community event 33.9 18 27.4 10 Festival 38.3 20 25.0 9 Work 26.6 14 26.5 9 School 2.8 1 0.0 0 Health care 2.8 1 0.0 0 Other 3.2 2 2.8 1 Temporary site 0.0 0 0.0 0 Total 119 78 3.2.5 Those giving a reason for travelling at this time of year (interviews carried out in July and September) (52 households) or at other times of the year (36 households) gave an average of 2.3 reasons for travelling in the case of those travelling at this time of year and 2.2 in the case of those travelling at other times. Way of life was the single most popular reasons for travelling both at this time of year and at other times. 3.2.6 44 households responded to the following question asking, if they travel at other times of year, when they travel. Table 3-20 What Other Times Of Year Do You Regularly Travel? Question 9f Household % Nos. January 33.6 15 February 40.4 18 March 58.1 26 April 64.8 29 May 84.8 38 June 89.0 40 July 90.0 40 August 91.0 40 September 92.3 41 October 59.1 26 November 33.6 15 December 33.6 15 Total 343
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3.2.7 Based on responses from 44 households those who travelled at other times of the year were travelling on average for 7.8 months of the year. The most popular travelling times were during the summer months: May - September. 3.2.8 The following questions asked households about their experience of eviction. 55 households responded to the first question asking the 57 households who had travelled in the last 12 months whether they had been evicted or forced to move on because of enforcement action. 55 households responded. Table 3-21 Have You Been Evicted From A Site/Pitch in the Last 12 Months? Question 9h % Household Nos. Yes 29.8 16 No 70.2 39 Total 100.0 55
3.2.9 Of those who had been evicted, 93.9% had left voluntarily, 6.1% had been evicted by bailiffs with a police presence. 3.2.10 When asked how often they had been evicted, 5 households had been evicted between 1 – 10 times, 11 45-50 times in the last 12 months, all of those evictions related households currently living in Tonbridge and Malling. Two households said they had been evicted more than 50 times, one was currently living in Ashford, one in Maidstone. The data suggested that 18 implied households had been evicted in the last 12 months rather than 16 as shown in Table 3-21 above. The 11 implied households identified in Tonbridge and Malling is based on a very low response with a high weighting factor applied to the raw data. 3.2.11 Security of tenure has been identified by Members of Parliament (Select Committee of ODPM report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2004) and the European Court of Human Rights (Connors case, 2004) as an issue for Gypsy and Traveller families on public sites. Pitches let on a licence or tenancy but only protected by caravan sites law, not Mobile Homes Act law, are all less secure than a secure or assured tenancy in housing. Government recognises that a balance needs to be struck between the needs of well established families to maintain their tenancy and the needs of site managers to act quickly to resolve conflicts as necessary, the Connors case established that the needs of well established families should prevail. Table 3-22 How Often Would You Like To Travel In The Future? Question 9g % Nos. Weekly 5.2 2 Monthly 7.5 3 Seasonally 73.5 28 Yearly 13.8 5 Do not want to continue to travel 0.0 0 Total 100.0 38
3.2.12 Of the 38 households responding to the question 73.5% (28) would prefer to be travelling seasonally in the future.
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3.3 Recent Accommodation 3.3.1 This section looks at where households living on sites lived before moving to their current accommodation.
Table 3-23 What Sort Of Accommodation Did You Have Before? Question 10a % Nos. This is my first / only accommodation 24.6 53 House/Bungalow/Flat/Maisonette 19.4 42 Supported housing (Inc sheltered) 0.0 0 Mobile home (permanent site) 17.2 37 Mobile home (transit site) 10.0 22 Touring caravan/trailer (permanent site) 12.5 27 Touring caravan/trailer (transit site) 7.8 17 Van 4.5 10 Don’t Know 4.0 9 Total 100.0 217
3.3.2 Of 217 respondents to the question, 19.4% (42) had previously lived in a house / bungalow / flat / maisonette. 24.6% (53) said this was their first accommodation. 27.2% (59) had previously lived in a mobile home, of which 62.7% (37) had been on permanent sites. In response to the following question 66.1% of the sample (82) said they had never lived in a house / flat / maisonette or bungalow.
3.3.3 Any household who had ever previously lived in bricks and mortar accommodation was asked about the tenure of their last permanent home. 83 households responded. 81.3% had been Council / RSL tenants. Table 3-24 Did You Own Your House or Rent It? Question 10c
% Nos. Owner-occupied 14.6 12 Council tenant 61.1 51 RSL/HA tenant 20.2 17 Renting from private landlord 2.4 2 Rent from family / friend or employer 1.7 1 Total 100.0 83
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Table 3-25 Current Location by Previous Location Question 11 Ashford Maidstone Tonbridge Tunbridge Current location & Malling Wells Previous location % % % % Ashford 54.1 6.1 0.0 8.3 Maidstone 16.6 45.5 11.1 16.7 Tonbridge & Malling 4.2 0.0 34.8 8.3 Tunbridge Wells 4.2 5.0 2.8 33.3 Elsewhere in Kent 16.7 22.9 8.3 16.7 Sussex 0.0 3.3 0.0 0.0 London 0.0 6.1 0.0 8.3 Elsewhere in South East 0.0 7.8 13.9 0.0 Within the UK but outside the South East 4.2 3.3 29.1 8.4 Outside the UK 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
3.3.4 All those who were not living in their first home were asked where they had previously lived. 161 households responded, of whom 58.7% (95) of the group had previously lived within the study area. 18.0% (29) had lived elsewhere in Kent. Table 3-25 gives details of the previous and current locations, showing that 54.1% of households currently living in Ashford had moved within the district, 45.5% in the case of Maidstone, 34.8% in the case of Tonbridge and Malling, and 33.3% in the case of households in Tunbridge Wells.
3.3.5 Based on a response from 159 implied households 73.7% had previously lived in a countryside or village location.
Table 3-26 How Long Did You Live There? Question 13 % Nos. Less than 1 week 0.0 0 Less than 1 month 1.5 2 Less than 3 months 2.4 4 Less than 6 months 0.9 1 6 months but less than 1 year 6.6 11 1 year but less than 5 years 33.9 54 5 years and over 54.7 88 Total 100.0 160
3.3.6 Based on responses from 160 households, 54.7% (88) of households responding had lived in their previous home for 5 years or more, compared to 50.0% of those living in permanent accommodation. 11.4% (18) had lived in their previous home for less than a year, compared to 0% of those currently living in housing accommodation. The data reflects the more transient nature of respondents currently living on sites compared to the sample as a whole.
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Table 3-27 Have You Ever Applied For Planning Permission? Question 14 % Nos. Yes 50.8 84 No 49.2 81 Total 100.0 165 3.3.7 Based on a response rate of 75%, 84 households had applied for planning permission. 83 implied households responded to a further question indicating that 47.4% of planning applications had been successful (39). 14.1% (12) of applications had been unsuccessful. 24.2% (20) of planning applications were still to be decided. 3.3.8 A breakdown of applications by district showed that 59.0% of households had made applications in Maidstone (87), 41 households had made applications in Tonbridge and Malling, 24 in Ashford and 13 in Tunbridge Wells. 3.3.9 The breakdown by district showed that 54.4% of applications made by households in Maidstone (27) had been successful. The proportion was 57.1% of applications made by households in Ashford, although this corresponded to just 8 applications, and 75% in Tunbridge Wells (3 applications). 3.3.10 Data provided by Planning showed 40 Gypsy and Traveller planning applications had been made in the last 5 years for a total of 79 additional caravan / mobile home / trailer spaces,. Table 3-28 If Yes What Was The Outcome by District? Question 15 Ashford Maidstone Tonbridge & Tunbridge
Malling Wells % % % % Granted 57.1 54.4 7.4 75.0 Refused 28.6 11.0 14.8 0.0 Went to appeal and won 7.2 13.7 7.4 0.0 Went to appeal and lost 0.0 5.9 0.0 0.0 Current application 7.1 15.0 70.4 25.0 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 3-29 To Whom Did You Apply for Planning Permission? Question 16 % Nos. Ashford 15.5 13 Maidstone 59.0 49 Tonbridge & Malling 16.5 14 Tunbridge Wells 7.7 6 Elsewhere in Kent 1.3 1 Sussex 0.0 0 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 0.0 0 Within the UK but outside the South East 0.0 0 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 100.0 83
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3.3.11 The majority of applications were made in the districts where households are currently living: 92.9% in the case of households living in Ashford, 97.2% in the case of living in Maidstone, 92.6% in the case of those living in Tonbridge and Malling, and 100% of those in Tunbridge Wells.
3.3.12 The final two questions in this section asked about site licences. 66 households had made an application for a planning site licence following planning consent of which 40 had been granted, 12 had been refused and 14 were current applications.
3.4 You and Your Family
3.4.1 A lot of data was collected on the age and sex of individual household members. From the data collected we were able to build up a picture of the households in the sample. The findings are summarised in the table below.
Table 3-30 Family Composition Family structure % Nos. Group %
1 adult over 60 6.5 14
1 adult under 60 12.5 27 18.9
1 adult and others 0.0 0
Couple no children 19.6 43
Couple with 43.5 95 64.0 children
Couple and others 0.9 2
Single parent 15.9 35 15.9
No Reply 1.1 2 1.1
Total 100.0 219 100.0
3.4.2 Just 18.9% of those living on sites were single person households. 43.5% of households responding and living on sites (95) were couples with children, a further 15.9% were single parents. Our data showed a rate of new family formation of 2.7% per year, this is in line with national studies showing natural population growth within the Gypsy and Traveller community to be an estimated 2 – 3% per year, in particular reflecting growth within the Irish travelling community, as a result of the lower age of marriage and higher level of fertility (“Provision and Condition of local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites in England 2002”).
3.4.3 In terms of the age of head of household and other household members, based on responses from 208 heads of household, we found 27.8% of heads of household living on sites to be aged between 30 - 44, compared to 24.1% of those living in permanent accommodation. The proportion of under 16s living on sites was 51.6% (232 children) compared to 35.6% (32 children) among those living in permanent accommodation.
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Table 3-31 Age Of Household Members Question 18b All other household Head of household members Age of household % Nos. % Nos. members 0 – 10 0.0 0 35.8 161 11 – 15 0.0 0 15.8 71 16 – 19 3.2 7 8.9 40 20 – 29 19.8 41 16.4 74 30 – 44 27.8 58 11.3 51 45 – 59 29.8 62 7.1 32 60 – 74 16.5 34 4.5 20 75+ 2.9 6 0.2 1 Total 100.0 208 100.0 450 3.4.4 The average number of people per household was 2.1 amongst respondents living on sites, compared to 2 amongst those in permanent accommodation. This is lower than the UK average of 2.4 as endorsed by the 2001 Census.
3.5 Access to Services and Facilities 3.5.1 The following section presents data on access to schooling and medical facilities. Data is also presented on the incidence of disability within the household and access to adaptations. 3.5.2 A study of the “Health of Gypsies and Travellers in England” by the University of Sheffield School of Health and Related Research (2004) found a high level of health inequality between their Gypsy and Traveller study group and the general population; reported health problems were between 3 and 5 times more prevalent within the Gypsy and Traveller community. The same study found that accommodation was seen as the over riding factor in terms of effects on health: concern focused on living conditions, but also extended to security of tenure, access to services, ability to register with a GP, support from the extended family and the general living environment. 3.5.3 A study by CURS at Birmingham University (2002) “The Provision and Condition of Local Authority Gypsy / Traveller sites in England” also found, at a national level, that suitable accommodation is critical to improving health and educational attainment within the Gypsy and Traveller communities. Table 3-32 Do Your School Age Children Attend Local Schools? Question 18b % Nos. Yes 81.8 88 No 17.2 19 Some 1.0 1 Total 100.0 108
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3.5.4 Based on responses from 108 households, 88 households living on sites said they had school age children in school. 19 households were identified as having school age children who were not in school, some of these may be supported with home schooling through Travellers Education. The data suggested that households living on sites were more likely than those in permanent housing to have school age children who did not attend school. 3.5.5 A breakdown of the data by district showed 89.2% (17) of those children who were not in school lived in Maidstone, 10.5% (2) in Ashford. The majority of those not in school lived on authorised sites 10 were on sites owned by the Council and 4 on private sites. 2 were living on unauthorised developments, and 3 on unauthorised encampments. 3.5.6 The 2006 study “Cambridge Sub Regional Travellers Needs Assessment” also found that a high percentage of the survey population had experienced time out of education, (section 4.3 of that report). .Figures recorded by schools within the Kent LEA show high levels of primary school attendance but low levels of attendance at secondary schools by Gypsy and Traveller children. Our data did not allow a breakdown of attendance by primary as compared to secondary schools. 3.5.7 18 households reported difficulties with schooling because of their accommodation / site. Of those experiencing a problem 3 had difficulty getting a school place; 13 had disrupted schooling due to their mobility, and 2 were afraid to send their children due to local hostility. 3.5.8 Based on responses from 176 implied households, 3 households had to move to access schooling in the last 12 months, of those 2 had to move once, one had moved 3 or more times. All those who had to move to access schooling were living on sites rather than in permanent housing. Of those moving 2 had moved within the current area, one from outside the area.
Table 3-33 Have You Had To Move to Access Schooling in the Last Question 18d 12 Months? % Nos. No 98.2 173 Yes, once 1.2 2 Yes, twice 0.0 0 Yes, three or more times 0.6 1 Total 100.0 176
3.5.9 Data from other surveys of Gypsy and traveller households has shown that households currently living on a site were less likely to be registered with a local doctor than all households in the sample. In the case of the survey area however, based on responses from 214 implied households, 90.5% of households currently living on a site were registered with a local doctor, compared to 96.6% of households living in housed accommodation. 20 households living on a site were not registered with a local doctor, all of whom were registered with a doctor elsewhere. The findings are consistent with the relatively settled nature of households living on sites in the study area.
Table 3-34 Are You Registered With A Doctor In This Area? Question 18f % Nos. Yes 90.5 194 No 9.5 20 Total 100.0 214
33 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 3-35 Do You Consider Anyone in Your Household To Have A Question 19a Disability or a Serious Long Term Illness?
% Nos. No 81.5 173 Yes, One 13.5 29 Yes, Two 5.0 11 Yes, More than two 0.0 0 Total 100.0 213
3.5.10 Based on responses from 213 households, our survey identified 40 households in the sample had a member with a disability or long term illness (18% of the sample). A breakdown of the data by district showed 7 households in Ashford, 28 in Maidstone, 2 in Tonbridge and Malling, and 2 in Tunbridge Wells. 3.5.11 Those households were asked further questions about the nature of the illness / disability and the adaptations available to support members of the household with a disability. 3.5.12 43 households responded to the following question indicating that in 60.9% of cases the disability limited their activity. 15 cases indicated that a member with a disability needed regular medical treatment from a doctor or hospital, 5 needed adaptations to the home, and 4 needed both adaptations and regular medical treatment. 3.5.13 The adaptations required included ramps outside, handrails, kitchen adaptations, bath / shower / toilet adaptations, and a bath / bed hoist, mobility scooter store. Those with a need for adaptations made an average of 3 choices each. Need was spread across the study area with all districts apart from Tonbridge and Malling having households with a need for adaptations. 4 households in Maidstone had a need for a wide variety of adaptations including kitchen and bathroom adaptations, ramps and handrails, adaptations for access and one household with a need for a scooter store. 2 households in Ashford had a need for bathroom adaptations, ramps and hand rails, one also needed kitchen adaptations and a hoist. 2 households in Tunbridge Wells needed bathroom adaptations and handrails, one also needed a ramp. 3.5.14 Only one household indicated that they had had adaptations carried out, in this case the work had been carried out by the local authority. Table 3-36 Adaptations Required Question 19d % Nos. Ramps outside / inside 53.4 4 Additional handrails outside / inside 65.4 5 Other alterations for access 17.3 1 Kitchen specially designed / adapted 46.6 4 Bath / toilet / shower specially 82.7 7 designed / adapted Bath / shower / toilet relocated 17.3 1 Hoist (bath / bed) 12.0 1 Mobility scooter store 17.3 1 Total 24
34 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.5.15 5 implied households indicated that they had a wheelchair user within their household.
3.6 Harassment 3.6.1 20.5% (44) of implied households currently living on a site said they had experienced harassment at their current site; and 23.9% (52) of those currently living on a site said they had left accommodation as a result of harassment. The harassment had predominantly occurred on the site (51 cases), although the 58 households responding made an average of 1.9 choices each. 3.6.2 Looking at the breakdown of responses at a district level we found that 45.5% of households who had experienced harassment on a site were living in Tonbridge and Malling (23 cases), 23.5% were in Ashford (12 cases), 21.1% were in Maidstone (11 cases) and 9.8% (5 cases were in Tunbridge Wells. Table 3-37 Where Had the Harassment Taken Place? Question 21b % Nos. On site 88.0 51 At work 23.5 14 In school 31.1 18 Elsewhere 44.7 26 Total 109 3.6.3 48.7% (104) of those currently living on a site said they would take harassment into consideration when deciding to move again.
3.7 Work 3.7.1 This section deals with the working patterns of households currently living on a site, including problems with working and issues around travel to work. Table 3-38 Do You Live Here To Be Near Work? Question 22a % Nos. Yes, permanent work 19.6 36 Yes, temporary work 2.4 4 No 78.0 142 Total 100.0 182 3.7.2 182 implied households responded to the question, with 36 (19.6%) saying they live at their current site to be close to work. Table 3-39 Current Employment Status Question 22b % Nos. Self-employed 36.5 64 Employed 8.6 15 Unemployed 10.4 18 Retired 20.6 36 Housewife 23.1 41 Househusband 0.8 1 Total 100.0 175
35 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.7.3 80.0% of the sample responded to the employment question (175 households), with 45.1% (79) indicating they were employed or self-employed, of those who were in employment 64 (81.0%) were self-employed. A district breakdown of the data revealed that 36.4% (23 households) of those who were self employed lived in Maidstone, 31.2% (20) in Ashford, 21.5% (14) in Tonbridge and Malling and 10.9% (7) in Tunbridge Wells. Highest levels of unemployment were found in Maidstone, 60.9% of those who were unemployed lived in Maidstone, as did 63.4% of those were retired. 3.7.4 Our findings on the importance of self employment are consistent with the CURS study “As Assessment of the Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in South and West Hertfordshire”. 22 people indicated that where they live makes it difficult to get to work. The following reasons were given, respondents made an average of 1.5 choices each. Table 3-40 What Are The Reasons for difficulty getting to work? Question 23b % Nos. Location of site 17.3 4 Lack of postal address 56.5 13 Lack of storage for work equipment 4.5 1 Lack of access to work 6.4 1 Other 66.5 15 Total 34 3.7.5 No households had moved in the last 12 months due to difficulties getting to work. 3.7.6 15 implied households responded to the question asking where they travel to for work. Those responding gave an average of 3.3 locations. Table 3-41 Where Do You Travel To For Work? Question 23e % Nos. Ashford 30.1 4 Maidstone 30.1 4 Tonbridge & Malling 30.1 4 Tunbridge Wells 39.8 6 Elsewhere in Kent 53.4 8 Sussex 30.1 4 London 30.1 4 Elsewhere in South East 43.6 6 Within the UK but outside the South East 70.7 10 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 50
Table 3-42 What Times Of Year Do You Travel To Work? Question 23f % Nos. Spring 84.5 13 Summer 87.3 14 Autumn 84.5 13 Winter 46.4 7 Total 47
36 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.7.7 13 out of 15 respondents to the question were travelling in the spring and autumn, 14 out of 15 in the summer, and 7 in the winter. Table 3-43 Do You Need Additional Space on Site for Work? Question 23g % Nos. Yes, storage space 20.9 23 Yes, workshop space 0.9 1 Yes, space for vehicles 5.0 5 No 73.2 79 Total 100.0 108
3.7.8 29 households indicated that they needed extra space at the site for work, 23 needed space for storage. 8 households in Ashford and 8 in Maidstone indicated a need for storage space, additional space for vehicles was focused (4 households) in Ashford. Looking at the breakdown by tenure of site, we found that 39% of those requiring additional storage space lived on private authorised sites, 39% on unauthorised developments. 13% lived on Council sites and one on an unauthorised encampment. 60% of those requiring additional space for vehicles lived on Council sites.
3.8 Income and Financial Support 3.8.1 The income of all household members was recorded to give a total annual income for the household before tax and other deductions. 41 households answered the question, 20 refused. The response rate to the income question was 67% of households asked the question and currently living on a site. These findings should be treated with some caution as 140 respondents were not asked the question due to a questionnaire error. This will have an impact on the validity of the data relating to this question and would make further analysis of this question in relation to affordability difficult.
Table 3-44 Total Annual Income of Household Question 24q % Nos. Below £10,000 83.6 34 £10,000 – £20,000 14.0 6 £20,001 - £30,000 2.4 1 £30,001 - £40,000 0.0 0 £40,001 - £50,000 0.0 0 £50,001 - £60,000 0.0 0 £60,001 - £70,000 0.0 0 £70,001 - £75,000 0.0 0 Above £75,000 0.0 0 Total 100.0 41
37 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.8.2 83.6% of respondents said they had incomes below £10,000. 39 implied households indicated that they received financial support, 17.8% of the sample, the response rate to this question was also low as a result of a questionnaire error. 40.2% of households living on sites were in receipt of Housing Benefit, this is higher than found in other recent DCA Gypsy and Traveller surveys where a figure of around 30% has been typical. Table 3-45 Does Your Household Receive Any Financial Support? Question 24r % Nos. Housing Benefit 40.2 16 Income Support 62.1 24 Pensions Credit 16.0 6 Disability Living Allowance 18.3 7 State Pension 18.3 7 Other 20.8 8 Total 68
3.9 Future Accommodation 3.9.1 Moving Intentions of Households Currently Living On a Site. 3.9.2 The moving intentions and future accommodation requirements of those currently living on sites were considered through a set of questions to help identify the need for future planning provision. Table 3-46 Are You Intending To Move From Your Current Site? Question 24a % Nos. No 67.0 140 Never 17.1 36 Don’t know 1.7 4 Within a month 11.1 23 Within 3 months 1.0 2 Within 6 months 0.0 0 Within a year 1.4 3 Within 3 years 0.0 0 Within 5 years 0.7 1 Total 100.0 209
3.9.3 Based on a response rate of 95%, 13.2% of the sample (29 households) had plans to move from their current site, of whom 23 wanted to move within a month. 48.2% of those planning to move were living in Tonbridge and Malling (14 households), 6 were in Ashford, 5 in Tunbridge wells and 4 in Maidstone.
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3.9.4 A lower proportion of respondents currently living on a site plan to move compared to those living in permanent accommodation (31.0%). Our findings reflect the settled nature of Gypsy and Traveller families living on sites in the study area. Table 3-47 Why Are You Intending To Move From Your Current Site? Question 24b % Nos. Problems with current accommodation 3.4 1 Want to travel to a specific event 3.4 1 Always travel at this time of year (July / Sept) 20.2 6 Harassment 3.4 1 Enforcement action 7.4 2 No security of tenure 4.9 1 Site not permanent (threat of eviction) 42.1 13 Do not like it here 8.2 2 Don’t want to be in a house 42.1 13 Other 20.9 6 Total 46
3.9.5 Respondents intending to move gave an average of 1.5 reasons for moving, with site not permanent and do not like it here being the most common reasons for moving, looking at the data for the sample as a whole, all of the households moving because they always travel at this time of year (interviews carried out in July and September) were currently living on a site rather than in permanent housing. 13 households indicated that wanted to move because they did not want to be in a house, this appears odd for a sample of site based respondents, the survey did not allow us investigate this finding further. 3.9.6 Respondents were asked where they wanted to move to. 26 implied households responded, 2 made 2 choices giving a total of 28 responses to the question; all 6 of those currently living in Ashford were hoping to move within the borough, 3 of the 4 households currently living in Maidstone planned to remain in the area, the 1 household from Tonbridge and Malling planning to move wanted to move to Maidstone, 2 households moving from Tunbridge Wells were moving to locations outside the south east, elsewhere in the UK. Table 3-48 What Area Are You Moving To When You Leave? Question 24c Responses % Nos. Ashford 22.7 6 Maidstone 15.0 4 Tonbridge & Malling 0.0 0 Tunbridge Wells 5.4 1 Elsewhere in Kent 0.0 0 Sussex 0.0 0 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 43.4 12 Within the UK but outside the South East 18.9 5 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 28
39 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.9.7 4 households intending to move are on a housing waiting list, none are on a site waiting list.
Table 3-49 What Are The Main Reasons For Choosing That Waiting List? Question 24e % Nos. Accommodation 75.6 3 Location 24.4 1 Total 100.0 4
Table 3-50 What Kind Of Location Will You Be Moving To When You Leave? Question 24f % Nos. City 0.0 0 Town 12.2 3 Village 29.2 7 Countryside 58.6 15 Total 100.0 25
3.9.8 22 of the 25 respondents to the question intend to move to a village or to the countryside. Table 3-51 When You Leave, What Are You Planning To Move To? Question 24h % Nos. Housing 23.0 6 Local authority site 0.0 0 Private site 0.0 0 Transit site 43.4 12 Roadside camp/car park 0.0 0 Unauthorised site – privately owned 18.9 5 Unauthorised site – council owned 0.0 0 Site owned by you/family with planning permission granted 10.9 3 Site owned by you/family with planning permission not granted 0.0 0 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission granted 0.0 0 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission not 0.0 0 granted Other site 3.8 1 Total 100.0 27
40 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
3.9.9 23.0% of respondents to the question (6 out of 27) intend to move on to permanent housing. 21 plan to move to a site, of whom 3 intend to move to a privately owned authorised site, and 5 to an unauthorised development. The data suggested that 12 implied households were planning to move to a transit site, of whom 11 were in Tonbridge and Malling, this is based on a very low sample with a high weighting factor applied to the data for Tonbridge and Malling. 3.9.10 A breakdown by area of the type of accommodation moving households were looking for is shown in the table below. Table 3-52 Where Are You Planning To Move To By Current Location Unauthorised Authorised Housing Transit Site Other Site Development Private Site Ashford 5 0 0 0 0 Maidstone 0 1 1 3 0 Tonbridge 1 11 0 0 0 and Malling Tunbridge 0 0 4 0 1 Wells Total 6 12 5 3 1
3.10 Site Accommodation Table 3-53 If Moving to a Site How Long Do You Plan To Stay There? Question 24g % Nos. 1 – 2 weeks 0.0 0 2 weeks to a month 0.0 0 1 – 3 months 20.0 4 3 - 6 months 5.0 1 6 months – 1 year 0.0 0 1 – 2 years 0.0 0 Don’t know 5.0 1 As long as possible before eviction 70.0 14 Total 100.0 20
3.10.1 4 of those intending to move to a site plan to stay at their next site for 1 – 3 months, one for 3-6 months and 14 will remain at their next site as long as possible before they are evicted.
3.10.2 Respondents were asked, in addition to essential facilities such as water and WC, what other facilities they would need on site and separate from their living accommodation. The response to this question was low, with just 15 implied households indicating any need for additional facilities for sole use, and 20 implied households in Table 3-54 indicating facilities for shared use. A wide range of facilities were identified, the most important of which were fire prevention facilities and mains electricity.
41 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 3-54 In Addition to Essentials What Facilities Will Be Question 24j Needed At Your Next Site? % Sole Nos. all % Shared use use responses Electricity supply (mains) 32.2 41.1 13 Gas (bottle) 100.0 5.6 16 Shed / amenity building 32.2 4.6 6 Bath 32.2 5.6 6 Shower 32.2 10.7 7 Kitchen facilities 100.0 5.6 16 Laundry facilities 32.2 10.7 7 Fire prevention 32.2 89.3 23 Space for visitors 32.2 5.6 6 Equipment storage 32.2 5.6 6 Rubbish Storage and collection (Council supplied) 92.9 31.0 20 Play space 15.8 10.7 4 Space for animals 16.4 5.6 4 Work space 15.8 5.6 3 Parking 83.6 36.0 20 Electricity supply (generator) 67.8 0.0 11 Gas (mains) 0.0 0.0 0 Rubbish storage and collection (privately supplied) 0.0 5.6 1
Table 3-55 How Many Site Spaces Do You Need For Work/Living? Question 24i % Nos. One 44.5 11 Two 23.5 6 Three 4.7 1 Four 6.1 1 Five 0.0 0 Six 21.2 5 Seven or more 0.0 0 Total 100.0 24 3.10.3 Those moving needed an average of 2.5 spaces per household on their next site for work & living space. This is consistent with our findings on number of living units per household, ranging on authorised sites from 1.7 in Tonbridge and Malling to 2.3 in Ashford; and on unauthorised sites from 1.5 in Tonbridge and Malling to 3.0 in Maidstone. 3.10.4 Respondents planning to use a site were asked why Gypsy and Traveller households use transit sites. 58 households responded of whom 42 said there was no alternative accommodation available, 7 said they were waiting for other accommodation, and 9 had “other” reasons.
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3.11 Housing Accommodation 3.11.1 The following questions asked households if they would like to live in permanent housing in the future. 6 households in Table 3-51 said they would consider permanent housing. 3.11.2 13 households responded to a further question asking why they would consider permanent housing. The data suggests that although only 6 households would like to live in permanent housing 13 could think of circumstances when they would consider it. For example 8 said they would consider permanent housing to give them access to better facilities. An average of 3.0 responses was given per household, with better facilities being the most popular reason. Table 3-56 Reasons for Looking for Permanent Housing Question 24n % Nos. Bigger in space 11.2 1 Warmer 37.9 5 Cheaper to heat 19.0 2 Safer 34.5 4 Better facilities 62.1 8 Access to Healthcare 33.6 4 Access to schools 11.2 1 Access to shops 11.2 1 Close to family 41.4 5 Close to friends / support 49.1 6 Other 15.6 2 Total 39 3.11.3 4 movers intending to move to permanent housing wanted a house, two preferred a flat, two a bungalow and one supported housing. All intended to rent their home. Table 3-57 Type of Permanent Housing Question 24o % Nos.
House 42.6 4
Bungalow 23.4 2
Flat / Maisonette 20.2 2
Supported Housing 13.8 1
Total 100.0 9
3.12 Needs of Concealed Households 3.12.1 The needs of concealed households were assessed through a separate set of questions. In line with guidance for general housing needs assessments it is not considered reasonable to ask households to predict the needs of concealed households beyond 3 years. The model in section 5 of this report projects the need reported for 3 years over a 5 year period.
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3.12.2 11 implied households currently living on a site indicated that they had a family member who would be looking for independent accommodation in the next 3 years. 3.12.3 In terms of the number of individuals involved, we identified 21. In 2 households there was one family member involved, in 8 cases there were two family members looking for independent accommodation and in one case three of more family members looking for accommodation. 3.12.4 Households containing at least one concealed household were asked what type of accommodation they would be looking for and which area they wanted to move to. 8 households indicated that their concealed households would prefer a site owned by you / family / friends with planning permission granted. Table 3-58 Type Of Housing Preferred By Concealed Households Question 25b % Nos.
House/Bungalow/Flat 9.1 1
Private site (e.g. caravan site) 9.1 1
Transit site 9.1 1
Site owned by you/family with planning 72.7 8 permission granted
Total 100.0 11
3.12.5 In 10 implied cases the respondent indicated that the new forming household could share the existing site with their family. 3.12.6 Two new households wanted to live in Ashford, nine in Maidstone. All of these implied households wanted to live in a Village or Countryside location.
3.13 Ideal Sites 3.13.1 The following questions asked all households currently living on a site for their ideas on what would make an ideal site, the response rate to each question is variable, depending on the number of households responding in each case. Table 3-59 What Is The Maximum Number of Pitches A Site Should Question 2 Have? % Transit Nos. %Permanent Nos. 1 – 5 14.9 26 30.6 64 6 – 10 29.8 52 26.6 56 11 – 15 25.1 44 24.1 51 16 – 20 15.8 28 14.1 30 21 – 25 2.3 4 1.4 3 26 – 30 3.1 5 0.7 1 Over 30 9.0 16 2.5 5 Total 100.0 175 100.0 210
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3.13.2 In line with other Government research (Select Committee of ODPM report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2004) respondents in our survey preferred smaller sites. 57.2% of those expressing a view prefer permanent sites with 10 or less pitches. In terms of transit sites, preference was for slightly bigger sites, with 44.7% preferring 10 pitches or less, slightly larger transit sites would allow greater flexibility for families when they were travelling.
3.13.3 Research suggests that smaller sites had fewer health and safety risks, especially in winter when there is more pressure on sites as families are travelling less, in addition smaller sites are easier to integrate into existing communities and are easier to manage. In the view of the Select Committee (Select Committee of DCLG report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2004) “permanent sites should have no more than 18 pitches... all sites should be small and not disproportionate to the size of the community in which they are placed a cap should be placed on the number of people who are resident on the site. The number of long term visitors on a site should be controlled by planning powers and enforced by the site manager”.
3.13.4 DCLG Planning guidance ‘Planning for Gypsy & Caravan Sites’ February 2006, however sounds a note of caution in setting any blanket “cap” on new development. Individual site applications need to be considered in context on their merits with maximum numbers related to the size and location of the site and surrounding population densities. Table 3-60 Where Would Be Your IDEAL Location? Question 29
% Nos. Ashford 19.3 41 Maidstone 44.3 95 Tonbridge & Malling 14.4 31 Tunbridge Wells 11.4 24 Elsewhere in Kent 8.4 18 Sussex 0.7 1 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 1.0 2 Within the UK but outside the South East 0.0 0 Outside the UK 0.5 1 Total 100.0 213
3.13.5 Of those choosing their ideal location, a cross tabulation shows below their current area of residence showing the majority of respondents actually wish to remain in the same area. As found in other local studies (“Assessment of the Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in South and West Hertfordshire” CURS 2005) the majority of respondents come from a previous location within or close to the study area, and can be defined as “local”.
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Table 3-61 IDEAL Location x Present Location Question 29 x current location Tonbridge Tunbridge Ashford Maidstone & Malling Wells Ashford 40 1 0 0 Maidstone 0 92 3 0 Tonbridge & Malling 0 4 27 0 Tunbridge Wells 0 5 0 19 Elsewhere in Kent 0 1 13 4 Sussex 0 1 0 0 Elsewhere in South East 0 0 1 1 Within the UK but outside the South East 0 0 0 0 Outside the UK 0 1 0 0 Total 40 105 44 24 3.13.6 All movers from Ashford would prefer to remain in the Ashford area, 87.6% of the households moving in Maidstone want to remain in the area, 61.4% in the case of movers from Tonbridge and Malling, and 79% in the case of movers from Tunbridge Wells. 3.13.7 Of those responding, 89.3% would ideally prefer to live in the countryside (190 cases) Of those choosing the countryside, 18.9% were from Ashford, 50.4% from Maidstone, 18.6% Tonbridge & Malling and 12.1% from Tunbridge Wells. Countryside locations should also be accessible to services such as health and education, in line with the priorities expressed in section 3.14 of this report . 3.13.8 The Government Select Committee recommendation (Select Committee of DCLG report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2004) is that all sites should be “located only in areas considered appropriate for general residential use”. 3.13.9 The DCLG responded by saying: “We believe that sites should be safe, sustainable and appropriately located. Local planning authorities will have a key role in identifying suitable locations for sites and working with Gypsies and Travellers to assist them to find land that they can purchase and develop.” Table 3-62 What Would Be Your Ideal Type Of Site? Question 32 % Nos. Site owned by you/family with planning permission granted 73.8 159 Site owned by another Gypsy & Traveller with planning not 0.7 1 granted Site owned by Council 22.7 49 Site owned by private landlord 0.5 1 Unauthorised encampment – Council owned 0.7 1 Don’t know 0.7 1 Other 0.9 2 Total 100.0 214 3.13.10 Of those expressing a view 73.8% would prefer to live on a site owned by themselves or their family, with planning permission. 22.7% would prefer a Council owned site. In terms of district breakdown, 50% of those requiring a private authorised site were living in Maidstone, 23.35 in Ashford, 17% in Tonbridge and Malling, and 9.4% in Tunbridge Wells. Demand for Council sites was focused 44.4% in Maidstone, 35.1% in Tonbridge and Malling.
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3.14 Service Provision 3.14.1 The final section asked respondents to comment on the importance of local services. Respondents were invited to comment on each of the services listed although not all households did so. The results show which services are of particular importance to Gypsy and Traveller households. 3.14.2 Health was the most important service, with all households saying health services were very or quite important apart from 3 implied households who said they were not very important. 3.14.3 Employment, training and education services are also a priority with 89.9% saying these are very or quite important. 3.14.4 54.8% said housing was a priority; 20% said it was not important at all. Table 3-63 Service Provision Question 33 % Not % Not % Very % Quite % Don’t very important at Important important know important all Local environment 68.8 22.4 1.0 7.1 0.7 Employment / training / 73.7 16.2 1.8 7.8 0.5 education Leisure activities 40.2 26.1 5.2 19.6 8.9 Safety and fear of 71.3 24.4 0.9 2.7 0.7 crime Transport 58.9 21.6 4.5 10.8 4.2 Housing 37.0 17.8 8.5 16.7 20.0 Health 93.0 5.7 0.0 1.3 0.0 Community Activities 32.0 26.5 6.7 20.4 14.4 3.14.5 63.9% of respondents wanted service information sent to them by post, 10.9% preferred to be contacted by phone, 24.9% identified “other” ways they would like to receive information of which all stated a site visit was the best way to get information to them. Only 0.7% wanted information via email and none via the internet. 3.14.6 44.8% of the sample wished to receive information on grants from the Council. 61.2% live in Maidstone, 14.5% in Tonbridge and Malling, 12.6% in Ashford, and 11.6% in Tunbridge Wells.
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4 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING IN PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION
4.1 Current Accommodation 4.1.1 Across England many Gypsies and Travellers are living increasingly settled life styles. The CURS study (2005) “Assessment of the Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in South and West Hertfordshire” noted a trend towards settlement in permanent housing or on sites, with households travelling for short periods to retain their cultural identity. It is not clear if this is a matter of choice or not. A lack of authorised sites may push some Gypsy and Traveller households into permanent housing, while others may choose a permanent home in order to access better facilities and services; the CURS study found ill health to be a spur to settlement. 4.1.2 29 respondents identified themselves as Gypsies or Travellers living in permanent housing within the survey area. This section considers the current accommodation circumstances of those Gypsies and Travellers in the survey area living in permanent accommodation. Not all households answered every question, resulting in a marginally different response rate to some questions. Respondents were well spread across the district with 48.3% living in Tonbridge and Malling, 17.2% in Ashford, 17.2% in Maidstone, 17.2% in Tunbridge Wells. Table 4-1 Gypsies and Travellers Living in Housing Accommodation
% Nos.
Temporary 3.4 1
Permanent 96.6 28
A care-of address 0.0 0
Total 100.0 29
4.1.3 Of the 29 respondents 28 (96.6%) were living in permanent accommodation, 3.4% (1) in temporary accommodation. Table 4-2 Type of Gypsy / Traveller
% Nos.
Romany Gypsy or English Traveller 100.0 29
Irish Traveller 0.0 0
Total 100.0 29
4.1.4 All of the respondents living in permanent housing were Romany Gypsy or English travellers. 4.1.5 Respondents were asked what type of accommodation they had in this location or elsewhere. 3 people had any vehicles or living accommodation elsewhere. Most were living in a house, flat, bungalow or maisonette (96.6%) with no other vehicles. 9 households also had additional vehicles at their current accommodation, 1 had a touring caravan / trailer.
48 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 4-3 Is This Your Main Accommodation /Home? Question 1b
Tenure % Nos. Yes 96.4 27 No 3.6 1 Total 100.0 28
4.1.6 96.4% of respondents were living in their main accommodation. 4.1.7 The one case stating that they did not live in their main accommodation had their main accommodation in Ashford, in a countryside location on a site owned by the family without planning permission. 4.1.8 Respondents living in a house / flat / maisonette or bungalow were asked 3 questions about their accommodation. 4.1.9 Respondents were asked how many bedrooms they had in their accommodation. 28 households responded. The average was 2.4 for households in housing accommodation. Table 4-4 How Many Bedrooms Does Your Accommodation Have? Question 1e Number % Nos. One 7.1 2 Two 50.0 14 Three 39.3 11 Four or more 3.6 1 Total 100.0 28
Table 4-5 Type of Accommodation Question 1f Type % Nos. House 59.3 16 Bungalow 11.1 3 Flat / Maisonette 29.6 8 Supported Housing (including sheltered) 0.0 0 Total 100.0 27
49 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.1.10 In terms of property type, 59.3% of those responding said their main accommodation was a house. Table 4-6 Do You Own the Accommodation or Rent? Question 1g % Nos. Owner-Occupied 18.5 5 Renting from private landlord 7.4 2 Council tenant 48.2 13 RSL/HA tenant 22.2 6 Rent from family / friend or employer 3.7 1 Total 100.0 27
4.1.11 Only 18.5% of the group were owner occupiers, 81.5% were renting, of whom 86.4% were renting in the social housing sector. 4.1.12 All households were then asked if their accommodation was adequate for their needs. 55.2% of the sample said their accommodation was adequate, compared to 50.7% of those living on sites. Of those saying their home was inadequate (13) 8 indicated that they wanted to travel again. As this question is related to inadequacy rather than preferences, the data implies a link between inadequacy and the desire to travel, suggesting a cultural aversion to bricks and mortar accommodation, rather than a simple preference to travel. Table 4-7 Reason For Inadequacy Question 2 % of 13 Nos. respondents Too small 30.8 4 Too big 7.7 1 Lack of / poor facilities 0.0 0 Neighbours 15.4 2 Harassment 7.7 1 Want to travel again 61.5 8 Security 7.7 1 Needs repair 7.7 1 Temporary 7.7 1 Other 38.5 5 Total 24
50 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.1.13 All households were asked how long they had lived in their current accommodation, 25 responses were received. 44.0% of the group had lived in their home for more than 5 years. 16.0% had lived in their current home for less than a year, a higher proportion of respondents currently living in permanent accommodation had been living at their current address for less than a year compared to those currently living on a site (10.7%). Table 4-8 How Long Have You Lived Here? Question 7 % Nos. A day or two 0.0 0 Less than one week 0.0 0 Less than one month 0.0 0 Less than 3 months 0.0 0 Less than 6 months 0.0 0 6 months but less than 1 year 16.0 4 1 year but less than 5 years 40.0 10 5 years and over 44.0 11 Total 100.0 25 4.1.14 Respondents were asked about the good and bad things about where they lived. In terms of the good things, respondents made an average of 7.0 responses each, with access to schools (82.1%) and location (82.1%) being the most positive aspects. There was a lower response rate when considering the bad things about the area (79.3%), with respondents making an average of 1.6 responses each. The main concern was problems with neighbours (8 cases), however 10 gave “other problems”, and no further details are available from data recorded. The problems outlined by those in housing accommodation were significantly different to those living on sites, where issues focused on site amenities. Table 4-9 What Are The Good / Bad Things About Where You Live Now? Question 8a / b % Good Nos. % Bad Nos. Accommodation 67.9 19 8.7 2 Neighbourhood / Estate 57.1 16 8.7 2 Neighbours / other people 57.1 16 34.8 8 Location 82.1 23 0.0 0 Access to shops 78.6 22 8.7 2 Access to doctors 78.6 22 8.7 2 Access to schools 82.1 23 0.0 0 Access to work 46.4 13 13.0 3 Access to family 67.9 19 21.7 5 Amenities of site 7.1 2 4.3 1 Surrounding environment 71.4 20 0.0 0 Temporary 0.0 0 4.3 1 Other 3.6 1 43.5 10 Total 196 36
51 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.2 Travel
4.2.1 All households were asked if they were willing to answer questions about their travelling patterns. This section gives details of the travelling behaviour of Gypsies and Travellers currently living in permanent accommodation in the survey area sample.
4.2.2 The ability of Gypsy and Traveller households currently living in permanent accommodation to travel may be limited by terms of tenancy that restrict the keeping of caravans or other vehicles at their home; or make it difficult to maintain a tenancy when they are away from home for long periods. Table 4-10 How Much Travelling Have You Done In The Last 12 Months? Question 9a % Nos.
None 89.7 26
Seasonal 6.9 2
Weekly 0.0 0
Monthly 3.4 1
When forced to move on 0.0 0
Other 0.0 0
Total 100.0 29
4.2.3 89.7% of households currently living in housing accommodation have not travelled in the last 12 months, this compares to 73.7% of households currently living on a site.
4.2.4 3 households who have travelled in the last 12 months all indicated that they had travelled more than 5 times. In all cases the household had travelled alone rather than in a group.
4.2.5 Only one household indicated how many vehicles they travel with, in this case there was just one vehicle.
Table 4-11 Do You Travel Regularly At This Time Of Year Or At Other Question 9d Times? This time of year Other times
% Nos. % Nos.
Yes 100.0 3 100.0 2
No 0.0 0 0.0 0
Total 100.0 3 100.0 2
4.2.6 All 3 households travel regularly at this time of year, (interviews carried out in July and September) 2 also travel at other times of the year.
52 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 4-12 What Is The Main Reason For Travelling? Question 9e This time of year Other times
% Nos. % Nos. Way of life 33.3 1 33.3 1 Family event 33.3 1 33.3 1 Festival 33.3 1 0.0 0 Work 33.3 1 33.3 1 School 33.3 1 33.3 1 Total 5 4
4.2.7 Those giving a reason for travelling at this time of year (interviews carried out July and September) (3 households) gave an average of 1.7 reasons for travelling and 1.3 reasons for travelling at other times of the year.
4.2.8 Those travelling at other times of the year (3 households) were asked when they travel.
Table 4-13 What Other Times Of Year Do You Regularly Travel? Question 9f % Nos.
January 66.7 2
February 33.3 1
March 100.0 3
April 66.7 2
May 66.7 2
June 100.0 3
July 100.0 3
August 100.0 3
September 66.7 2
October 66.7 2
November 66.7 2
December 33.3 1
Total 26
4.2.9 Those who travelled at other times of the year were travelling on average for 8.7 months of the year. In the survey area households living on sites tend to travel less often, on average for 7.8 months of the year.
53 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 4-14 Have You Been Evicted From A Site/Pitch In The Last 12 Months? Question 9h % Nos. Yes 0.0 0 No 100.0 3 Total 100.0 3 4.2.10 None of the households in the sample had been evicted from a site in the last 12 months. Table 4-15 How Often Would You Like To Travel In The Future? Question 9g % Nos. Weekly 33.3 1 Monthly 33.3 1 Seasonally 33.3 1 Total 3 4.2.11 Of those who had been travelling in the last 12 months 3 responded to the question asking how often they would like to travel in the future.
4.3 Recent Accommodation 4.3.1 This section looks at where households currently living in permanent accommodation lived before moving to their current accommodation. Table 4-16 What Sort Of Accommodation Did You Have Before? Question 10a % Nos. This is my first / only accommodation 3.4 1 House/Bungalow/Flat/Maisonette 41.5 12 Supported housing (Inc sheltered) 0.0 0 Mobile home (permanent site) 24.2 7 Mobile home (transit site) 10.3 3 Touring caravan/trailer (permanent site) 3.4 1 Touring caravan/trailer (transit site) 13.8 4 Van 0.0 0 Don’t Know 3.4 1 Total 100.0 29 4.3.2 41.5% (12) of those currently living in permanent accommodation previously lived in a house / bungalow / flat / maisonette, this compares to just 19.4% of those currently living on a site. In contrast 47.5% of those currently living on a site had previously lived in a touring caravan / trailer or a mobile home, compared to 51.7% of those currently living in permanent accommodation. 4.3.3 All households, apart from those who had never lived anywhere else were then asked where they used to live. A response was received from 28 households.
54 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 4-17 Where Did You Used To Live? Question 11 % Nos. Ashford 11.1 3 Maidstone 11.1 3 Tonbridge & Malling 44.5 13 Tunbridge Wells 7.4 2 Elsewhere in Kent 18.5 5 Sussex 3.7 1 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 3.7 1 Within the UK but outside the South East 0.0 0 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 100.0 28 4.3.4 13 respondents (44.5%) had previously lived in Tonbridge & Malling. Table 4-18 Did You Live In A Town or A Country Area? Question 12 % Nos. City 0.0 0 Town 17.9 5 Village 35.7 10 Countryside 46.4 12 Total 100.0 27 4.3.5 Of those who had lived elsewhere (27 cases) 12 had previously lived in the countryside, 10 in a village. Of those responding (26), 22 (84.6%) had previously rented their accommodation. Table 4-19 Tenure of Previous Accommodation Question 10c % Nos. Owner Occupier 15.4 4 Council tenant 50.0 13 RSL / HA tenant 23.1 6 Rented from private landlord 11.5 3 Rented from family / friend / employer 0.0 0 Total 100.0 26
Table 4-20 How Long Did You Live There? Question 13 % Nos. Less than 1 week 0.0 0 Less than 1 month 0.0 0 Less than 3 months 0.0 0 Less than 6 months 0.0 0 6 months but less than 1 year 0.0 0 1 year but less than 5 years 50.0 14 5 years and over 50.0 14 Total 100.0 28
55 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.3.6 All those currently in permanent accommodation had lived at their previous home for more than a year. 50.0% of households currently in permanent accommodation had lived in their previous home for 5 years or more, compared to 54.7% of respondents currently living on a site.
Table 4-21 Have You Ever Applied For Planning Permission? Question 14 % Nos.
Yes 17.9 5
No 82.1 23
Total 100.0 28
4.3.7 5 households had applied for planning for permissions, 4 had been successful, and 1 was a current application. Three of the applications had been made in Maidstone, one in Ashford and one in Tunbridge Wells.
4.3.8 2 respondents had been granted a caravan site licence; one had a current application in for a licence, suggesting that they had already received planning consent.
4.4 You and Your Family
4.4.1 A lot of data was collected on the age and sex of individual household members. From the data collected we were able to build up a picture of the households in the sample. The findings are summarised in the table below. Table 4-22 Family Composition Family structure % Nos Group % 1 adult over 60 17.2 5 1 adult under 60 0.0 0 17.2 1 adult and others 0.0 0 Couple no children 6.9 2 Couple with 37.9 11 51.7 children Couple and others 6.9 2 Single parent 31.1 9 31.1 Total 100.0 29 100.0
4.4.2 17.2% of respondents in the housed sample were single people aged over 60. There was also a far higher proportion of single parent households (31.1%) compared to those on sites (15.9%) and compared to the national average (9%).
4.4.3 In terms of the age of head of household and other household members, based on responses from 29 heads of household, we found 51.8% of heads of household living in permanent housing to be aged between 20 – 44, compared to 56.6% of those living on a site. The proportion of under 16s living on sites was 51.6% (232 children) compared to 55.2% of those living in permanent accommodation. A total of 32 children aged under 16 years were identified as living in permanent accommodation within the sample.
56 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
Table 4-23 Age Of Household Members Question 18a All household Head of household members Age of household % Nos. % Nos. members 0 – 10 0.0 0 36.2 21 11 – 15 0.0 0 19.0 11 16 – 19 0.0 0 12.1 7 20 – 29 27.7 8 15.5 9 30 – 44 24.1 7 12.1 7 45 – 59 31.0 9 3.4 2 60 – 74 13.8 4 1.7 1 75+ 3.4 1 0.0 0 Total 100.0 29 100.0 58 4.4.4 The average number of people per household was 2 amongst those living in permanent accommodation, compared to 2.1 amongst respondents living on site. The average family size is higher amongst Gypsy and Traveller families than within the general population (2.4 in the National Census data).
4.5 Access to Services and Facilities 4.5.1 The following section presents data on access to schooling and medical facilities for households currently living in permanent accommodation. Data is also presented on the incidence of disability within the household and access to adaptations. 4.5.2 16 households indicated that they had school age children in local schools, 1 household said their children were not in school. 1 household indicated that their current accommodation affects their child’s schooling. In this case the family had difficulties getting a school place. No families had moved in the last 12 months in order to access schools. 4.5.3 96.6% (28) of respondents currently living in permanent accommodation were registered with a doctor in the area, 1 household was registered with a doctor elsewhere. This compares to 90.5% of respondents living on a site who are registered with a doctor in this area. Table 4-24 Do You Consider Anyone in Your Household To Have A Question 19a Disability or a Serious Long Term Illness? % Nos. No 79.4 23 Yes, One 17.2 5 Yes, Two 3.4 1 Yes, More than two 0.0 0 Total 100.0 29 4.5.4 6 households in the sample had a member with a disability or long term illness (20.6%), the incidence of disability was marginally higher amongst Gypsy and Traveller households in permanent accommodation than it was amongst those living on sites (18%). Households with a member with a disability were asked further questions about the nature of the illness / disability and the adaptations available to support members of the household with a disability.
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4.5.5 In 5 cases the disability limited movement in and around the home. 4 cases needed regular medical treatment; one needed both regular medical treatment and adaptations to the home. 4.5.6 The adaptations required by the one household with a need for adaptations were ramps outside / inside, additional handrails outside / inside, and bath / shower / toilet adaptations. 4.5.7 No households living in permanent housing were identified as including a wheelchair user. 4.6 Harassment 4.6.1 This section looks at the experiences of harassment amongst Gypsy and Traveller households currently living in permanent accommodation. 7 households had experienced harassment at their current home; and 6 households in the sample had left accommodation as a result of harassment. 4.6.2 Those who had left accommodation because of harassment were asked where the harassment had taken place, 6 people responded giving an average of 2.3 responses each. Table 4-25 Where Did the Harassment Occur? Question 21b % Nos.
On site 100.0 6
At work 33.3 2
In school 50.0 3
Elsewhere 50.0 3
Total 14
4.6.3 75.9% of the sample said they would take harassment into consideration when deciding to move again.
4.7 Work 4.7.1 This section deals with the working patterns of Gypsy and Traveller respondents currently living in permanent accommodation, including problems with working and issues around travel to work. Table 4-26 Do You Live Here To Be Near Work? Question 22a % Nos.
Yes, permanent work 6.9 2
Yes, temporary work 0.0 0
No 93.1 27
Total 100.0 29
4.7.2 2 respondents said they live here to be close to work.
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Table 4-27 Are You? Question 22b % Nos. Self-employed 10.5 3 Employed 17.2 5 Unemployed 17.2 5 Retired 17.2 5 Housewife 37.9 11 Househusband 0.0 0 Total 100.0 29 4.7.3 29 households responded to the question on their employment status, a response rate of 100%. 27.7% of respondents living in permanent accommodation were employed or self employed (8). This compared to 45.1% of those living on sites although a higher proportion of households in permanent accommodation were employed rather than self employed. 4.7.4 4 respondents indicated that where they live makes it difficult to get to work. The following reasons were given. Table 4-28 What Are The Reasons? Question 23b % Nos. Location 50.0 2 Lack of postal address 0.0 0 Lack of storage for work equipment 0.0 0 Lack of access to work 50.0 2 Other 0.0 0 Total 100.0 4
4.7.5 1 household had moved once in the last 12 months due to difficulties getting to work.
4.7.6 2 respondents (25% of those in employment) said they had to travel for work. The following locations were given.
Table 4-29 Where Do You Travel To? Question 23e % Nos. Ashford 50.0 1 Maidstone 50.0 1 Tonbridge & Malling 50.0 1 Tunbridge Wells 50.0 1 Elsewhere in Kent 50.0 1 Sussex 0.0 0 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 100.0 2 Within the UK but outside the South East 50.0 1 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 8
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Table 4-30 What Times Of Year Do You Travel To Work? Question 23f % Nos. Spring 100.0 2 Summer 100.0 2 Autumn 100.0 2 Winter 50.0 1 Total 7
4.7.7 Both of the respondents who travel for work are travelling in the summer, spring and autumn, one also travels for work in the winter.
4.7.8 None of the respondents in the sample needed additional space for work.
4.8 Income and Financial Support 4.8.1 There was a low level of response to questions on income within the survey. Responses were received from just 4 households, of whom 3 had incomes below £10,000 and one had an income of between £10,000 - £20,000. The results should be treated with caution as they do not represent an accurate profile of incomes within the sample. 4.8.2 3 people indicated that they received financial support, 10.3% of those living in permanent accommodation. All received Income support and 2 households receive Housing Benefit.
4.9 Future Accommodation
4.9.1 Moving Intentions of Households Currently Living in Permanent Housing.
4.9.2 The moving intentions and future accommodation requirements of the sample were considered through a set of questions to help identify the need for future planning site provision.
Table 4-31 Are You Intending To Move From Your Current House? Question 24a
% Nos. No 62.1 18 Never 0.0 0 Don’t know 6.9 2 Within a month 6.9 2 Within 3 months 3.4 1 Within 6 months 0.0 0 Within a year 20.7 6 Total 100.0 29
4.9.3 31.0% of the sample (9 households) had plans to move from their current home, of whom 66% wanted to move within a year, compared to 14.2% of those currently living on a site who had plans to move.
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Table 4-32 Why Are You Intending To Move from Your Current Question 24b House?
% Nos. Accommodation 22.2 2 Neighbours / other people 11.1 1 Location 11.1 1 Far from family 22.2 2 Near family and friends 11.1 1 Threat of eviction 44.4 4 Don’t want to be in a house 44.4 4 Other 55.6 5 Total 20
4.9.4 9 households responded, giving reasons why they wanted to move. Respondents intending to move gave an average of 2.2 reasons for moving with don’t want to be in a house and threat of eviction being the most common reasons for moving. 5 households gave “other” reasons for moving, no further information is available on these reasons. 4.9.5 The following preferred locations were given by 9 households planning to move. All those currently living in Ashford wish to remain there; 2 households from Tonbridge and Malling wish to remain in the district. Of those planning to move out of their current district, the one mover from Tonbridge and Malling and one from Tunbridge Wells wanted to move to Maidstone. Table 4-33 What Area Are You Moving To When You Leave? Question 24c % Nos. Ashford 33.3 3 Maidstone 33.3 3 Tonbridge & Malling 22.2 2 Elsewhere in Kent 11.2 1 Total 100.0 9
Table 4-34 Are You on Any Site/House Waiting Lists? Question 24d % Nos. Yes – housing waiting list 33.3 3 Yes – site waiting list 22.3 2 No 44.4 4 Total 100.0 9 4.9.6 3 households intending to move are on a housing waiting list, 2 are on a site waiting list. 44.4% of those intending to move are not on a waiting list. 4.9.7 Those planning to move were asked why they had chosen that waiting list; all 5 households responded making an average of 1.8 choices each.
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Table 4-35 Reason For Choosing That Site/House Waiting Lists? Question 24e % Nos. Accommodation 20.0 1 Location 20.0 1 Close to doctors 20.0 1 Close to family 60.0 3 Like it there 40.0 2 Other 20.0 1 Total 9
4.9.8 4 households intending to move hoped to move to the countryside, 3 would prefer a village location, 2 would like to move to a town. 4.9.9 8 moving households responded to a question asking about the type of accommodation they intend to move to. 5 intend to move to permanent housing, 3 to a site.
4.10 Site Accommodation 4.10.1 Of those planning to move to a site, 1 intends to move to a site owned by family with planning permission and 2 to a site owned by family without planning permission. Only 1 responded to a further question asking how long they would stay on the site, and this respondent did not know how long. 4.10.2 Respondents were asked what facilities they would need at their next site. 3 households responded indicating the following facilities for sole use, 2 responded indicating facilities for shared use. Kitchen facilities were again the most important facility. Table 4-36 In Addition to Essentials What Facilities Will Be Question 24j Needed At Your Next Site? % Shared % Sole use Nos. use Kitchen facilities 100.0 0.0 3 Gas (bottle) 66.7 0.0 2 Rubbish Storage and collection 3 66.7 50.0 (Council supplied) Play space 100.0 0.0 3 Electricity supply (mains) 66.7 50.0 3 Shed / amenity building 66.7 50.0 3 Shower 66.7 50.0 3 Laundry facilities 66.7 50.0 3 Space for visitors 66.7 50.0 3 Parking 33.3 50.0 2 Electricity supply (generator) 0.0 0.0 0 Fire prevention 33.3 100.0 3 Space for animals 33.3 100.0 3 Work space 33.3 0.0 1 Bath 0.0 50.0 1
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Table 4-37 How Many Site Spaces Do You Need For Work/Living? Question 24i % Nos. One 66.7 2 Two 0.0 0 Three 33.3 1 Total 100.0 3 4.10.3 Those currently living in permanent housing needed an average of 1.7 spaces per household on their next site, this compared to 2.5 spaces required by respondents planning to move who were currently living on a site. 4.10.4 Finally respondents were asked why Gypsy and Traveller families use transit sites. 2 said there was no alternative accommodation, one that they would use a transit site while waiting for other accommodation.
4.11 Housing Accommodation 4.11.1 The following questions asked households if they would like to live in permanent housing in the future. 3 households indicated in Table 4-38 that they would consider permanent housing. 4.11.2 Those who would consider permanent housing accommodation in the future were asked why they wanted permanent housing. 3 households responded, 2 indicating a need for better facilities, although no further details were provided on the facilities required. Table 4-38 Reasons for Looking for Permanent Housing Question 24n % Nos. Safer 33.3 1 Better facilities 66.7 2 Access to healthcare 33.3 1 Close to family 33.3 1 Close to friends / support 33.3 1 Other 33.3 1 Total 7
4.11.3 All 3 of those responding to the question on the type of accommodation preferred wanted a house. All 3 respondents plan to rent rather than buy their home.
4.12 Needs of Concealed Households 4.12.1 No concealed households were identified within the sample.
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4.13 Ideal Sites 4.13.1 The following questions ask respondents currently living in permanent housing for their ideas on what would make an ideal site. Table 4-39 What Is The Maximum Number of Pitches a Site Should Have? Question 27 % Transit Nos. % Permanent Nos. 1 – 5 18.5 5 25.0 7 6 – 10 18.5 5 25.0 7 11 – 15 33.3 9 17.9 5 16 – 20 29.7 8 32.1 9 21 – 25 0.0 0 0.0 0 26 – 30 0.0 0 0.0 0 Over 30 0.0 0 0.0 0 Total 100.0 27 100.0 28 4.13.2 50.0% of respondents prefer permanent sites with 10 or less pitches. 37.0% of those expressing a view on the size of transit sites would prefer sites of 10 pitches or less. Table 4-40 What Would Be Your IDEAL Type of Site? Question 28 % Nos. Touring caravan / trailer on a public permanent site 35.7 10 Touring caravan / trailer on a private permanent site 35.7 10 Touring caravan/trailer Private transit site 0.0 0 Touring caravan/trailer Public transit site 3.6 1 Other 25.0 7 Don’t Know 0.0 0 Total 100.0 28
4.13.3 As with those currently living on a site the ideal site is a touring caravan / trailer on a permanent public or private site 71.4%. Table 4-41 Where Would Be Your IDEAL Location? Question 29 % Nos. Ashford 14.8 4 Maidstone 14.8 4 Tonbridge & Malling 22.3 6 Tunbridge Wells 11.1 3 Elsewhere in Kent 25.9 7 Sussex 3.7 1 London 0.0 0 Elsewhere in South East 3.7 1 Within the UK but outside the South East 3.7 1 Outside the UK 0.0 0 Total 100.0 27
64 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.13.4 Preferences in terms of ideal location were spread across the district, with “elsewhere in Kent” being the most popular choice. 4.13.5 Of those choosing their ideal location, a cross tabulation shows below their current area of residence showing the majority of respondents actually wish to remain in the same area. Table 4-42 IDEAL Location x Present Location Question 29 x Current Location Tonbridge Tunbridge Ashford Maidstone & Malling Wells Ashford 4 0 0 0 Maidstone 0 2 1 1 Tonbridge & Malling 0 0 6 0 Tunbridge Wells 0 0 0 3 Elsewhere in Kent 0 2 5 0 Sussex 0 0 1 0 Elsewhere in South East 1 0 0 0 Elsewhere in UK, outside 0 0 1 0 South East Total 5 4 14 4
Table 4-43 Ideally Would You Like To Live In A Town Or Country Area? Question 31 % Nos. City 0.0 0 Town 0.0 0 Village 10.7 3 Countryside 89.3 25 Total 100.0 28
4.13.6 89.3% of the group would prefer to live in the countryside, a further 10.7% in a village. The response in Table 4-45 on service provision suggests that these locations should none the less be accessible to local services. Table 4-44 What Tenure Would Your Ideal Type Of Site Be? Question 32 % Nos. Site owned by you/family with planning permission 82.1 23 granted Site owned by Council 17.9 5 Total 100.0 28
4.13.7 As with those currently living on a site, based on 28 responses, the majority of the group 82.1% would prefer to live on a site owned by themselves or their family, with planning permission. 17.9% would prefer a Council owned site.
65 DCA Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
4.14 Service Provision
4.14.1 The final section asked respondents to comment on the importance of local services. The results show which services are of particular importance to Gypsy and Traveller households. Health and employment, training and education were the most important service, with 100% of the sample saying they were very important. Local environment was also a priority with 86.2% of the sample saying it was very important. Community was not a particular priority, only 58.6% saw this as very important while 3.4% said it was not important at all.
Table 4-45 Importance of Local Services % Not % Not % Very % Quite % Don’t very important at Important important know important all Local environment 86.2 10.4 3.4 0.0 0.0 Employment / training / 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 education Leisure activities 62.1 20.8 3.4 10.3 3.4 Safety and fear of 89.7 10.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 crime Transport 82.8 13.8 3.4 0.0 0.0 Health 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Community Activities 58.6 20.7 10.4 6.9 3.4
4.14.2 82.1% of respondents wanted service information sent to them by post, 17.9% identified “other” ways they would like to receive information, and no specific ideas were presented by respondents. No one wanted to receive information by e-mail or on the internet or by telephone. 4.14.3 69.0% of those currently living in permanent housing wished to receive information on grants from the Council.
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5 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION NEEDS MODEL
5.1 Supply 5.1.1 The Gypsy and Traveller needs model used in this report is based on latest Government Guidance (February 2006). Data used in the model is drawn both from the DCA survey of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs (September / October 2005) and from secondary data provided by the County and individual local authorities. 5.1.2 Projections of need are made for the next 5 years. This approach is consistent with guidance (recommending projections between 5 – 10 years). Our view is that this initial study provides a starting point for development of plans and strategies to meet both the back log of need, and need arising from family formation over the next 5 years. This study will need to be updated after 5 years to monitor progress in meeting the backlog of need. Once the backlog is cleared local authorities will be in a very different position in terms of the need to plan for future family formation after 2011. Table 5-1 Current Residential Supply 1 Current Residential Supply
Current supply of occupied local authority residential site pitches in the local 2 81 authority / partnership area
Current supply of occupied authorised privately owned site pitches in the local 3 107 authority / partnership area
Pitches on unauthorised developments that have been tolerated for more than 4 10 10 years
Total permanent site pitches supply 198
5.1.3 The July 2005 Caravan Count found 313 caravans on authorised local authority and private sites within the study area, local data suggested that there had been some over counting on local authority sites, with 4 extra caravans recorded on Stilebridge lane site in Maidstone and 8 extra caravans recorded on Coldharbour site in Tonbridge and Malling. A total of 81 pitches were identified on authorised local authority sites.
5.1.4 A summary of the Caravan Count data is provided in Appendix V of this report and includes an analysis of the data for the study area (Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells) along side data for the rest of the south east region, and against national figures between July 2003 and July 2005.
5.1.5 215 caravans were identified on private authorised sites within the study area (July 2005), applying the survey data on the average number of living units per household this equates to 107 households (or 107 pitches).
5.1.6 10 pitches were identified on unauthorised developments that had been tolerated for more than 10 years, this included 8 on Hoath Wood and 2 at Church lane, East Peckham in Tonbridge and Malling.
5.1.7 A total of 198 permanent site pitches were identified in the study area.
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Table 5-2 Current Projected supply 5 Current projected supply
Number of households in permanent local authority site accommodation planning to move to 6 6 permanent housing in the next 12 months
7 New local authority pitches already planned in year 1 0
Existing applications for private site development / extension likely to gain planning 8 0 permission during year 1 (number of pitches)
9 Annual total pitches available 6
10 Available over 5 years 30
5.1.8 The survey looked at the projected supply of pitches expected to become available through pitch turnover on local authority sites and through new pitches expected to be approved on private or Local Authority sites.
5.1.9 The survey identified 6 households currently living in authorised site accommodation but planning to move. In this case all the households planning to move wished to move to permanent housing in the next 12 months. The ability to achieve this move, and therefore the flow of vacant pitches resulting will depend on the supply of permanent housing to meet this need locally. This is the figure shown in line 6 of the supply model above, and suggests a turnover of 7.4% on authorised sites.
5.1.10 There was no local management data providing corroborative evidence of any movement from local authority sites to bricks and mortar housing across the study area.
5.1.11 The survey identified no other households planning to move from authorised local authority sites within the study area.
5.1.12 Local management data was requested to corroborate the level of turnover identified through the survey (7.4%). Data was not available for all districts but in Tonbridge and Malling there had been just two vacancies in the last 5 years, all other areas reported a very low level of turnover. Generally strong site management is believed to be keeping pitch turnover low in the study area.
5.1.13 There are no plans to provide additional local authority pitches within the study area, although there are plans to increase caravan capacity on existing pitches at Chimlington site this will not accommodate any additional households. The flow of new private site approvals through the planning system will be dependent on suitable sites being available. No additional public or private site pitches are anticipated in lines 7 and 8 of the current projected supply table above.
5.1.14 Historic data from local Planning departments revealed an average of 10 new pitches granted per year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Maidstone. In addition 10 pitches gained planning permission in Tunbridge Wells and Ashford in 2005. If this level of supply is maintained over the next 5 years there is likely to be a close match between supply and demand as projected in this report. However, the pattern of new approvals in future years should be spread across the study area, in line with preferences expressed through the survey (see Table 5-3 below)
5.1.15 The model assumes that the level of supply identified for year one (6) will be sustained in future years, giving a total supply of 30 over 5 years.
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5.2 Need Table 5-3 Current Backlog of Need 11 Current Backlog of Need
12 Households on unauthorised encampments
Households on unauthorised developments for which planning permission is not expected in 46 13 year 1 14 Households currently overcrowded on authorised sites 18 15 Backlog of concealed / new family formation within existing households 6 16 Total current residential backlog of need? 70
Less Number of unused local authority pitches, and vacancies on privately owned sites 17 0 available in the local authority / partnership area that could be brought back into use 18 Current shortfall 70
19 Family formation 2005 – 2010 24
5.2.1 The Caravan Count is the only available national benchmark against which to estimate the number of households living on unauthorised encampments and developments within the study area. As this is not a perfect record we seek to qualify the Caravan Count by testing it against local knowledge at the start of the project and against the survey findings once the fieldwork has been completed. 5.2.2 Table 2-1 of this report compares the Caravan Count to the estimated number of households in the study area. The number of households on unauthorised encampments and developments is derived by applying the average number of living units per household (as found in the survey) to the Caravan Count. 5.2.3 From a 3 year average of the July 2003 / 2004 and 2005 Caravan Counts we identified 75 caravans, equating to 36 households estimated to be living on unauthorised encampments and developments in the study area (UEs and UDs). 5.2.4 During the fieldwork period we identified a higher number of UEs and UDs, equating to 56 households. 8 households on Hoath Wood and 2 from Church lane, East Peckham in Tonbridge and Malling have been excluded from the needs data, they are sites that have been tolerated for more than 10 years and are counted in line 4 of the current residential supply table above. Leaving 46 households reflected in line 12/13 in the needs table above. 5.2.5 All 46 households are assumed to have a need to be met within the study area. It is a fundamental understanding from our discussions with DCLG that need should be met within the study area in which it is identified. As no allowance is made within the model for in-migrating or out-migrating households it is assumed that as provision increases across the country in and out migration will balance out. 5.2.6 18 respondents living on authorised sites indicated that their accommodation was inadequate for their needs because it was too small. A cross tabulation of the data confirmed that there were no new forming households amongst those who said their accommodation was too small. This is the figure used in line 14 of the needs table above. A self assessment of overcrowding is a more reliable indicator of over crowding within this community than is the bedroom standard, if the bedroom standard in the 1985 Housing Act was applied to public (or private) Traveller caravan sites far more people might be found to be overcrowded than would be judged so by the people themselves.
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5.2.7 Existing households were asked if they had anyone within their household who was likely to need independent accommodation in the next 3 years. 18 new forming households were identified over 3 years. To give an annual rate of new household formation the 3 year total is divided by 3 to give 6 per year, or a total of 30 over 5 years. We have included 6 households needing accommodation in the next 12 months in line 15 of the needs table above (back log of need) and 24 as future family formation in line 19 of the needs model above. This equates to a family formation rate of 2.7% (6 / 219 x 100). 5.2.8 The total current residential need (70) is the current back log of unmet need. There is no reliable local waiting list data to use as a comparison. Tonbridge and Malling have 5 households waiting for a pitch on the Coldharbour site and 4 for a pitch on Windmill lane site. In Tunbridge Wells 5 households are waiting for a pitch on the Heartenoak site. 5.2.9 There are no unused pitches that could be brought back into permanent use. 5.2.10 The total additional authorised site pitches needed is calculated as follows:-
30 pitches are available over the 5 year period (6 per year).
There is a back log of 70 pitches needed, plus 24 new households likely to form in the next 5 years.
Total supply over 5 years = 30
Total need over 5 years = 94
The data suggest there will be a need for 64 additional new pitches between 2006 – 2011 (13 per year)
5.2.11 In addition to the needs identified through the model there may also be a need for site based accommodation from households currently living in bricks and mortar accommodation. This is difficult to assess on the basis of the 29 interviews carried out with households living in bricks and mortar accommodation as no baseline data was available on the total number of Gypsy and Traveller households in bricks and mortar accommodation against which the interviews could be grossed.
5.2.12 Just 3 existing households (no concealed households) from the site based sample had a preference for a site (10.3%). There is a need to establish a credible baseline figure for the total number of households living in bricks and mortar accommodation before the next GTAA is carried out.
5.2.13 The distribution of any new pitches across the study area will be a matter for local debate, the data gathered in the survey is robust at a sub regional level, and provides some indication of need locally. In particular Tonbridge and Malling appear to be starting from a very low base of authorised sites along with a high proportion of tolerated sites; Maidstone has a very strong private supply but none the less continues to have problems with unauthorised developments. Our survey data found that the majority of households planning a move wished to remain in the same area, however, when considering ideal site location there was a good spread across the study area, of those choosing a location within the study area (89.7% of the sample) 21.4% prefer Ashford, 50% Maidstone, 12.5% Tunbridge Wells, and 16.1% Tonbridge and Malling.
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5.2.14 Table 5-4 below shows the distribution of new authorised site pitches on the basis of both existing and ideal locations. There is little difference in the distribution of pitches comparing existing and desired locations. We strongly recommend that, in line with general housing needs assessments new Gypsy and Traveller site allocations are made on the basis of preference, as expressed through the question on ideal location within the survey.
5.2.15 Migration patterns showed a correlation between previous and existing location and to a lesser extent between current and future location 54.2% of movers in Ashford had remained in the district, 45.5% in the case of movers from Maidstone, 34.8% from Tonbridge and Malling, and 33.3% from Tunbridge Wells. Of 66 households who had moved into the study area 44% (29) had come from elsewhere in Kent, 68.2% of this group moved into Maidstone. 24.2% of those moving from outside the study area came from within the UK but outside the South East, of this group 75% moved into Tonbridge and Malling. The reasons for moving were not examined in the survey.
5.2.16 26 households who had plans to move indicated the area they wished to move to, all of those moving from Ashford and 59% from Maidstone indicated they would remain in the district. 17 households (65% of moving households) plan to move out of their current district, all to districts beyond the study area.
Table 5-4 Existing Location Of Site Based Respondents Compared To Ideal Location. Distribution of Preferences Distribution of Total 64 proposed expressed 64 proposed implied Existing additional through the additional households location pitches, based survey: pitches, based in the on existing ideal on ideal survey location location location Nos % Nos % Nos Ashford 43 19.6 12 21.4 14 Maidstone 108 49.4 32 50.0 32 Tonbridge & 44 20.1 13 16.1 10 Malling Tunbridge 24 10.9 7 12.5 8 Wells Total 219 100 64 100 64
5.2.17 The survey showed that 73.8% of households would ideally prefer to live on a private site, 22.7% would prefer a site owned by the Council. The ability to achieve 73.8% of new sites in the private sector will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of suitable land for development, the ability of Gypsy and traveller families to meet land and development costs, and the submission of a successful planning application.
5.2.18 The survey found, based on a response rate of 67%, that 83.6% of households had incomes below £10,000, and 17.8% of the sample were in receipt of financial support. The data suggests a limited capacity to meet private land and development costs.
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6 KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Key Findings
¾ The Gypsy and Traveller survey found that the majority of respondents classed themselves as Romany Gypsy or English travellers (94.1%). Only 12.5% of households currently living on sites and 12.5% of those in permanent accommodation had travelled in the last 12 months. ¾ The survey identified some key issues facing the Gypsy and Traveller communities in the survey area, with problems focused on those living on sites:-
♦ Households were asked about the adequacy of their site or pitch. 50.7% indicated that their site or pitch was adequate, 49.3% that it was inadequate. Of households living on sites 28% of those saying their home was inadequate said there was a lack of facilities / poor facilities. This was also the main issue when considering the bad things about the site.
♦ There was a fairly high level of access to basic facilities, and 77.3% of respondents currently living on a site were satisfied with their site.
♦ Highest levels of satisfaction overall were found on family owned sites with planning permission. 54.6% of households living on sites have sole access to a water supply and 62.6% have shared access. 84% have sole access to a WC, 16.7% shared access.
♦ There are concerns over health and safety on sites. 23.3% of respondents living on sites had worries about health and safety on their site, with fire precautions being the main concern. 81.2% of those with health and safety worries lived on authorised Council sites.
♦ There are lower levels of access to schools amongst households living on sites compared to those living in bricks and mortar accommodation. 19 households living on all sites indicated that they had school age children who were not attending local schools, this compares to just 1 household living in permanent housing.
♦ There are higher than expected levels of disability and illness (18%), and a low level of adaptations provided across the sample as a whole, a key finding also of the ‘2004 survey Health Status of Gypsies & Travellers in England’, published by Sheffield University’. Comparing those living in permanent accommodation to households living on sites there was little difference in the access to local doctors.
♦ There are low levels of employment, 45.1% amongst those living on any site and 27.7% among those living in housing accommodation. There were also high levels of self-employment: 81% amongst those living on sites and 37.5% amongst those in permanent housing. ¾ Respondents in the survey reported high levels of harassment both amongst those living on sites and in permanent housing, 20.5% of households living on a site had experienced harassment at the current site. 48.7% of those living on a site and 75.9% of those in permanent housing said they would take harassment into account when they moved.
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¾ 14.2% (129) of households currently living on sites and 31% (9) of those in permanent accommodation had plans to move home. 6 of those who want to move and are currently living on a site plan to move into permanent housing, the main reasons given were to access better facilities and to improve safety. All those planning to move to permanent housing were currently living on public authorised sites. ¾ There is a good supply of authorised site accommodation in parts of the study area, with Maidstone having 168 caravans legally accommodated at the July 2005 Caravan Count and Ashford having 86. Tonbridge and Malling (41) and Tunbridge Wells (27) have a smaller supply of authorised sites. In July 2005 unauthorised, tolerated sites were found predominantly in Tonbridge and Malling (21 caravans), and illegal encampments in Maidstone (44 caravans).
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6.2 Recommendations Based On The Data 6.2.1 Our needs assessment model (see section 5 of this report) identifies a need for 64 additional authorised permanent site pitches across the study area over the next 5 years, in addition to a continued supply of 6 per year from pitch turnover. This will meet both the backlog of existing need expressed through unauthorised encampments and developments, and new family formation. 6.2.2 Maidstone has a high level of unauthorised sites along side a strong supply of authorised sites, and over the past 3 years has made a significant contribution to increasing the supply of authorised pitches locally (10 per year). There is a need for future growth in supply to be accommodated in all areas, in line with preferences expressed through the survey. Work patterns are found to be spread evenly across the sub area and ideal locations are also spread across the sub area. Cross district working will be essential to achieve a balance of sites across the sub region to meet needs over the next 5 years. 6.2.3 There is clear support in our interview sample for more privately owned sites, 73% of respondents said their ideal site would be a private authorised site. Planners should take account of the high level of Gypsy and Traveller satisfaction with private sites and the locational preferences expressed through the survey and based on travel and working patterns as well as overall preferences for sites in particular districts when considering applications. Preference is for smaller sites in countryside locations. This raises significant issues in planning terms. 6.2.4 Although planning applications appear to be fairly successful in line with ODPM Guidance ‘Planning for Gypsy and Caravan Sites’ February 2006, relations between the community and planning department could be further developed to support the Gypsy and Traveller community through the applications process. 6.2.5 The survey found a fairly high level of satisfaction with sites, although some issues were raised over health and safety suggesting a need to improve the procedure for regular inspection of sites, covering the provision of basic facilities including water and sanitation and health and safety. All sites should be effectively managed. 6.2.6 The educational needs of children on sites are currently addressed through the education department. The study found children living on sites are more likely to be missing school or having problems accessing education. New sites should be developed with access to local facilities in mind. Recommendations for improving access to education should be developed by the Education Department in consultation with the community. 6.2.7 Employment and training is a priority for the community. Given the high level of self- employment and likelihood that this may come with irregular income, there may be a need to provide information and advice to the Gypsy and Traveller community in consultation with the benefits agency. 6.2.8 Allegations of harassment appear to be significant and needs to be addressed in partnership with the community and the police. There may be a need to develop relationships with the police to tackle issues of harassment. 6.2.9 While there is clearly demand for more and improved sites there is also a demand for permanent housing, see section 3.11 and 4.11. Information and advice on local housing options needs to be made available to the community. 6.2.10 The demand for transit provision has not been assessed through the survey. Local management data is being collected on unauthorised encampments and movement through the area. This data should be analysed locally to develop plans for future transit need.
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6.3 NOTES OF GTAA STAKEHOLDERS SEMINAR 6.3.1 Introduction 6.3.2 Maidstone, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councils formally commissioned consultants David Couttie Associates to undertake a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) across the four districts. Following completion of the survey, a stakeholders’ seminar was held to present the findings of the study to the gypsy & traveller community and to discuss the future delivery of need identified in the draft GTAA. 6.3.3 The event was held at Lenham Community Centre on Wednesday 20th June 2007 at 10am – 12pm. 6.3.4 List of Attendees
David Couttie David Couttie Associates Sue Whiteside Maidstone Borough Council John Littlemore Maidstone Borough Council Louise Lynds Maidstone Borough Council Julie Martin Maidstone Borough Council Hazel Skinner Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Brian Gates Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Tony Jarvis Ashford Borough Council Gill Harris Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Alan Casson Kent County Council 20 MEMBERS OF THE GYPSY & TRAVELLER COMMUNITY
6.3.5 Questions and Answers
Q. The figures in the survey were challenged. Gypsies and travellers are only moving into permanent housing because of better living standards. If there were adequate sites available gypsies and travellers would prefer not to live in housing. A. GTAA figures are a product of the results of the survey questionnaires. They are a record of fact in terms of what was said at interview by the gypsy and traveller community.
Q. The accuracy of the survey was disputed as it was believed that not all gypsies in Ashford had been interviewed. A. Evidence suggested that 100% of caravan-based households in Ashford had been interviewed, unless there were sites that the Council was not aware of.
Q. How can decent homes be achieved? Gypsies and travellers do not want to move to housing if they can afford to buy land for their needs. A. This issue must be addressed through the Local Development Framework (LDF) process. Good quality permanent site or pitch provision is clearly very important.
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Q. Every Council has to find land suitable for the needs of the gypsy and traveller community. This is the first time in history that the community has been included in such a process. What will the Councils do next? A. GTAAs form the evidence base for the production of Councils’ LDF documents. The findings of the survey will be used to help formulate criterion based policies in Core Strategies and to allocate land or pitches to meet the needs of the gypsy and traveller community through Development Plan Documents. GTAAs will also feed into the partial review of the South East Plan, which will include information on the number of gypsy and traveller pitches required in the region. Gypsies and travellers will be involved in the process of allocating sites through consultation and stakeholder engagement. This will take time and, meanwhile, it will be essential for each Council to monitor its pitch provision against the identified need.
Q. Some of the gypsy and traveller community cannot read or write, so how can they be included? A. The survey is just the start of the process for meeting the needs of the gypsy and traveller community, and it sets the basis for communication with local government. Now that the scale of the problem has been identified, it is important that the dialogue between the gypsy and traveller community and planning officers continues.
Q. People need educating about the needs of the gypsy and traveller community. A. It is agreed that education is an important part of the solution, but Councils will ultimately have to come up with an answer to address the need for new sites and/or pitches.
Q. Land owned by the gypsy and traveller community has been offered to Councils in exchange for other land that is considered to be more appropriately located. Councils have stated that no new land or alternative sites are available. A. Councils do not necessarily own land to enable them to exchange sites. However, Councils have a duty and responsibility to address identified need through their LDF documents and, if they do not, they risk their Core Strategies being found unsound.
Q. Councils are wasting money fighting planning applications. If they granted planning permissions, villages would accept the gypsies and travellers who would become part of the village community. A. GTAAs identify the need for new permanent pitches, and Development Plan Documents will identify appropriate sites. Once suitable sites have been identified, the process should become easier to administer.
Q. The gypsy and traveller community would like to sit down and talk to the Councils about site provision, provided they would be taken seriously by Councillors and the executive. A. Planning Officers will deal with site provision as part of the LDF process. Officers will assess sites and short-list preferred sites that Members will ultimately approve. This process will be subject to public consultation and stakeholder input but there needs to be a balanced view. The purpose of the seminar is the first step in this process, to listen to what the gypsy and traveller community has to say.
Q. The gypsies and travellers were asked about the best method to contact and involve them in the land allocation process, and to establish what sites might have development potential. A. The community was happy to be contacted in the same way that it was for the seminar invitations.
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Q. What are the timescales for addressing the results of the GTAA? Will Councils carry on evicting people in the meantime? A. Timescales are a problem because, for example, Maidstone’s Land Allocations Development Plan Document will not be adopted until 2010. Also, it will take time to complete the partial review of the South East Plan. It is therefore very important that Councils monitor new planning permissions annually and assess their supply of pitches against the need identified in the GTAA. The approach adopted towards eviction notices is a matter that will have to be discussed at Councillor-level in the light of the findings of the GTAA.
Q. Local authorities should have taken responsibility for identifying sites when the Housing Act was passed in 1994. Every Council knew this survey was happening and nothing has been done. Councils need to act now and the political will needs to change. A. Councils did not know the quantity of need to act upon until the GTAA had been undertaken. Councils recognised the pressure for new sites but did not know the individual needs of their communities. Now the need has been identified through the survey, appropriate sites can be identified in the right places. Political will is changing.
Q. Gypsies and travellers need certainty in terms of permanent planning consents. The ability to provide homes for their children is critical as, within the next 5 years, the community’s children will need somewhere to live. The four Councils involved in the survey have the opportunity to take the lead in addressing need. Gypsies and travellers who have found their own land find themselves at appeal, when in fact the Councils should have found the land for them. Why can’t planning permission be granted for these sites now? A. Planning applications for gypsy and traveller sites cannot be approved if the sites are considered to be inappropriate. Suitable land must be found to house the community and the start of that process is the stakeholders’ seminar.
Q. It was suggested that a working party involving all 4 districts and the gypsy and traveller community be set up to work together to address the problems. A Kent-wide working party, facilitated by the County Council, would be helpful in moving matters forward. Working together will get things done quicker and the community wants to work with the Councils to solve the problems. How will a final solution be found? A. Kent County Council agreed to facilitate a working party should it be found to be helpful. Maidstone Borough Council agreed to explore the need for a working party with the County and other District Councils in order to progress matters. However, each Council will be required to provide for its own need in consultation with their local communities.
Q. The gypsies and travellers explained that they did not want to live on transit sites, but preferred to be located on small permanent sites with their own families. A. The findings of the survey reflect this viewpoint. The aim of the GTAA is to identify the need for permanent sites or pitches, and transit sites will not be included in this provision. Transit site provision is being considered through a County-wide forum.
Q. Concerns were raised that too many planning applications were being refused and in some areas the only applications granted over the past two years had been allowed at appeal. This is not good enough. A. Planning applications must be carefully monitored to ensure that Councils are meeting the need identified in the GTAA. This monitoring process is critical in the interim period until land can be allocated through the LDF process.
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6.3.6 Summary of Debate 6.3.7 The GTAA survey has identified the quantity of need required over the four districts surveyed. This is the first step in the process for allocating new sites or pitches. 6.3.8 Councils are responsible for providing for their individual gypsy and traveller accommodation needs. 6.3.9 Councils will allocate land to meet the need for new sites or pitches as part of the Local Development Framework process, identifying suitable land in consultation with the gypsy and traveller community. 6.3.10 It is critical that dialogue between the Councils and the gypsy and traveller community is maintained during the planning process. 6.3.11 It was agreed that LDF timescales are lengthy and that the partial review of the South East Plan will also take time, so it will be essential for the process to maintain momentum if the needs of the community are to be met. 6.3.12 Kent County Council agreed to facilitate a working party to maintain momentum if a need for a forum was established. If such a need arises, Maidstone Borough Council will set up a forum.
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7 References 7.1.1 CURS (2002) “The Provision and Condition of Local Authority Gypsy / Traveller Sites in England 7.1.2 ODPM (2004) “Select Committee of the ODPM report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites: Thirteenth Report” and the ODPM’s Response to that Select Committee Report 7.1.3 The University of Sheffield School of Health and Related Research (2004) “The Health Status of Gypsies and Travellers in England” 7.1.4 Cambridge Sub Region Traveller Needs Assessment” (un published) 7.1.5 CURS (2005) “An Assessment of the Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in South and west Hertfordshire”
79 DCA APPENDIX I
QUESTIONNAIRE
ASHFORD, MAIDSTONE, TONBRIDGE & MALLING AND SEPTEMBER 2005 TUNBRIDGE WELLS
GYPSY / TRAVELLER STUDY
WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS Please tick box
RESPONDENT DETAILS:
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS
NAME: MR/MRS/MISS/MS ______
ADDRESS: ______
______
POSTCODE: ______
TELEPHONE NO: STD CODE: (______)
EMAIL ADDRESS: ______
IS THIS ACCOMMODATION: AREA
Temporary ...... 1 Ashford...... 1 Permanent ...... 2 Maidstone...... 2 A care-of address ...... 3 Tonbridge & Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells...... 4 GRID/SITE NUMBER:
DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS? Romany Gypsy or English Traveller...... 1 Irish Traveller ...... 2 Welsh Gypsy or Traveller...... 3 Scottish Gypsy or Traveller...... 4 New Traveller...... 5 Horse Drawn Traveller ...... 6 Fairground Traveller...... 7 Van Dweller...... 8 None ...... 9 Don’t know ...... 10 Other (please specify)...... 11
IF ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE PLEASE SPECIFY BELOW WHAT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE IS? (please specify)
INTERVIEWER’S DECLARATION
I certify that this interview was carried out according to Mill Field Services’ instructions and within the MRS Code of Conduct.
SIGNATURE: ______
PRINT NAME: ______
NO: ______DATE: ______
INTRODUCTION:
Good morning / afternoon / evening. My name is ______and I am from an independent research company called Mill Field Services (SHOW MRS IDENTIFICATION). We have been asked by some local councils in West Kent to see what sort and how much accommodation Gypsies and Travellers need locally, now and in the future. We want to be sure that we understand what Gypsies and Travellers need and want, so we would like to talk to a number of people – in houses, on sites and on the roadside – to get a range of views.
Would you be willing to talk to me? It will probably take approximately 25 minutes. If you agree, I will be writing down your answers but the interview will be completely confidential. We are completely independent of any local council. No-one will be identified in any report, and there is no way that anyone will be able to trace any particular answer back to you.
So, would you be willing to talk to me now? If it’s awkward, I could call back later on today.
If, during the interview, a particular question comes up that you’d really rather not answer, then please just say so.
1
ASHFORD, MAIDSTONE, TONBRIDGE & MALLING AND SEPTEMBER 2005 TUNBRIDGE WELLS
MAIN QUESTIONNAIRE GYPSY / TRAVELLER STUDY
SECTION A: ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING CURRENT ACCOMMODATION? YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION B)
Now I'd like to ask some questions around your current accommodation. (If asked explain that Councils need to have a picture of current need in order to plan site provision.
Q1a WHAT SORT OF ACCOMMODATION DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE IN?
House...... 1 Site...... 2
Q1b IS THIS YOUR MAIN ACCOMMODATION/HOME?
Yes ...... 1 ) GO TO Q1c THEN FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS UNDER TABLE BELOW No ...... 2 ) GO TO Q1c & FOLLOW ONTO Q1d
Q1c WHAT TYPE / NUMBER LIVING UNITS (MOBILE HOMES, HOUSES/ BUNGALOWS AND TRAILERS) DO YOU HAVE AT PRESENT?
PROBE TO DISTINGUISH MOBILE HOMES AND TOURING CARAVANS / TRAILERS. ENTER NUMBER.
This site Elsewhere Three Three One Two or One Two or more more House/Bungalow/Flat/Maisonette 1 2 3 4 5 6
Supported Housing (including 1 2 3 4 5 6 sheltered) Mobile home- permanent site 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mobile home- transit sites 1 2 3 4 5 6
Touring caravan/ trailer- permanent site 1 2 3 4 5 6 Touring caravan/ trailer- transit sites 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vans 1 2 3 4 5 6 Additional vehicles 1 2 3 4 5 6 Work Vehicles 1 2 3 4 5 6
IF THE CURRENT ACCOMMODATION IS THE MAIN ACCOMMODATION AND RESPONDENT: LIVES IN HOUSE )GO TO Q1E LIVES ON A SITE ) GO TO Q2
Q1d IF THIS IS NOT YOUR MAIN ACCOMMODATION / HOME, WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
IF HOUSEHOLD ON A SITE )GO TO Q2. 2
Q1e HOW MANY BEDROOMS DOES YOUR MAIN ACCOMMODATION HAVE? One ...... 1 Two ...... 2 Three...... 3 Four or more ...... 4
Q1f WHAT IS YOUR ACCOMMODATION TYPE?
House...... 1 Bungalow ...... 2 Flat / Maisonette ...... 3 Supported Housing (including sheltered) ...... 4
Q1g DO YOU OWN THE ACCOMMODATION, OR RENT IT?
Owner-occupier...... 1 Renting from private landlord...... 2 Council tenant ...... 3 RSL / HA tenant ...... 4 Rent from family / friend /employer...... 5
Q2 IS THIS PLACE ADEQUATE FOR YOUR NEEDS? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY Accommodation Site or pitch Adequate...... 1 ...... 1 Not adequate - too small...... 2 ...... 2 Not adequate – too big...... 3 ...... 3 Not adequate – lack of or poor facilities ...... 4 ...... 4 Not adequate – neighbours ...... 5 ...... 5 Not adequate – harassment ...... 6 ...... 6 Not adequate – want to travel again...... 7 ...... 7 Not adequate – security ...... 8 ...... 8 Not adequate – needs repair work...... 9 ...... 9 Temporary...... 10 ...... 10 Not adequate – other please state...... 11 ...... 11
...... If in permanent housing ...... ) GO TO Q7
Q3a WHAT IS THE TENURE OF YOUR CURRENT SITE?
Site owned by you and your family with planning permission granted...... 1 Site owned by you and your family with planning permission not granted...... 2 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission granted...... 3 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission not granted...... 4 Site owned by Council ...... 5 Site owned by RSL/ HA ...... 6 Site owned by private landlord...... 7 Unauthorised encampment – privately owned ...... 8 Unauthorised encampment – Council owned...... 9 Other (please specify)...... 10
3 Q3b WHAT AMENITIES DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO? Sole use Shared use Don’t Have Water supply (external)...... 1 ...... 1 ...... 1 Electricity supply (mains) ...... 2 ...... 2 ...... 2 Electricity supply (generator) ...... 3 ...... 3 ...... 3 Gas (mains) ...... 4 ...... 4 ...... 4 Gas (bottled) ...... 5 ...... 5 ...... 5 Rubbish storage and collection (council supplied) ...... 6 ...... 6 ...... 6 Rubbish storage and collection (privately supplied) ...... 7 ...... 7 ...... 7 Shed / amenity building...... 8 ...... 8 ...... 8 WC ...... 9 ...... 9 ...... 9 Bath...... 10 ...... 10 ...... 10 Shower...... 11 ...... 11 ...... 11 Kitchen facilities ...... 12 ...... 12 ...... 12 Laundry facilities ...... 13 ...... 13 ...... 13 Fire prevention ...... 14 ...... 14 ...... 14 Space for eating or sitting ...... 15 ...... 15 ...... 15 Play space ...... 16 ...... 16 ...... 16 Space for animals ...... 17 ...... 17 ...... 17 Space for visitors ...... 18 ...... 18 ...... 18 Work space ...... 19 ...... 19 ...... 19 Equipment storage...... 20 ...... 20 ...... 20 Parking...... 21 ...... 21 ...... 21 Other – please specify ...... 22 ...... 22 ...... 22 ......
Q4 HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE SITE AT WHICH YOU ARE CURRENTLY LIVING?
Very satisfied ...... 1 Satisfied ...... 2 Neither...... 3 Dissatisfied...... 4 Very dissatisfied...... 5
Q5 DO YOU HAVE ANY WORRIES ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY AT THIS SITE?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q7
Q6 WHAT ARE YOUR WORRIES ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY?
Close to road...... 1 Close to pylons ...... 2 Close to rubbish tip/landfill...... 3 Far from doctors...... 4 Overcrowding...... 5 Lack of heating fuel...... 6 Rubbish collection...... 7 Lack of washing facilities e.g. shower/bath ...... 8 Fire prevention issues...... 9 Vermin...... 10 Noise and air pollution ...... 11 Close to phone mast...... 12 Other (please specify)...... 13 ......
4 Q7 HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED HERE?
A day or two ...... 1 Less than one week...... 2 Less than 1 month ...... 3 Less than 3 months...... 4 Less than 6 months...... 5 6 months but less than 1 year...... 6 1 year but less than 5 years...... 7 5 years and over ...... 8 Q8a WHAT ARE THE GOOD AND BAD THINGS ABOUT LIVING WHERE YOU LIVE NOW? Good Bad Accommodation ...... 1 ...... 1 Neighbourhood ...... 2 ...... 2 Neighbours / other people ...... 3 ...... 3 Location...... 4 ...... 4 Access to shops...... 5 ...... 5 Access to doctors...... 6 ...... 6 Access to schools ...... 7 ...... 7 Access to work...... 8 ...... 8 Access to family ...... 9 ...... 9 Amenities of site...... 10 ...... 10 Surrounding environment ...... 11 ...... 11 Temporary...... 12 ...... 12 Other (please specify)...... 13 ...... 13 ......
Q8b DO YOU HAVE A BASE / SITE / PITCH / REGULAR STOPPING PLACE / HOME SOMEWHERE ELSE?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q9a
Q8c WHERE IS YOUR BASE? Site 1 Site2 Site 3 Ashford...... 1 ...... 1...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 ...... 2...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 ...... 3...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 ...... 4...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 ...... 5...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 ...... 6...... 6 London ...... 7 ...... 7...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 ...... 8...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 ...... 9...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10 ...... 10...... 10
Q8d IS YOUR BASE ELSEWHERE IN A TOWN OR A COUNTRY AREA? Site 1 Site2 Site 3 City ...... 1 ...... 1...... 1 Town ...... 2 ...... 2...... 2 Village ...... 3 ...... 3...... 3 Countryside...... 4 ...... 4...... 4
5 Q8e WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR BASE ELSEWHERE? Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site owned by you and your family with planning permission granted...... 1 ...... 1...... 1 Site owned by you and your family with planning permission not granted...... 2 ...... 2...... 2 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission granted...... 3 ...... 3...... 3 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission not granted...... 4 ...... 4...... 4 Site owned by Council ...... 5 ...... 5...... 5 Site owned by RSL/ HA ...... 6 ...... 6...... 6 Site owned by private landlord...... 7 ...... 7...... 7 Unauthorised encampment – privately owned ...... 8 ...... 8...... 8 Unauthorised encampment – Council owned...... 9 ...... 9...... 9 Owner-occupier...... 10 ...... 10...... 10 Renting from private landlord...... 11 ...... 11...... 11 Council tenant ...... 12 ...... 12...... 12 RSL/HA tenant ...... 13 ...... 13...... 13 Other ...... 14 ...... 14...... 14
SECTION B: TRAVEL ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING TRAVELLING? YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION C)
Now I'd like to ask you some questions about travelling. (If asked, explain that Councils need to build up a picture of travelling patterns in order to plan site provision.)
Q9a WHEN HAVE YOU GONE OFF TRAVELLING IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
None ...... 1 ) GO TO 10a Seasonal (prompt spring, summer, autumn, winter)...... 2 Weekly ...... 3 Monthly...... 4 When forced to move on...... 5 Other (please state) ...... 6 ......
Q9b HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GONE OFF TRAVELLING IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
Once...... 1 Twice...... 2 Three...... 3 Four...... 4 Five or more...... 5
Q9c WHEN YOU TRAVEL HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS AND VEHICLES TRAVEL WITH YOU?
Households Vehicles (Write in Nos) Own household ...... 1 ...... Two Households ...... 2 ...... Three households ...... 3 ...... Four Households...... 4 ...... Five or more households ...... 5 ......
Q9d DO YOU TRAVEL REGULARLY? This time of year Other times Yes ...... 1 ...... 1 No...... 2 ...... 2 ...) GO TO Q9f
6 Q9e WHAT IS THE MAIN REASON FOR YOUR TRAVELLING? This time of year Other times Holiday ...... 1...... 1 Family event...... 2...... 2 Community event ...... 3...... 3 Festival...... 4...... 4 Work...... 5...... 5 School ...... 6...... 6 Health care...... 7...... 7 Way of life ...... 8...... 8 Temporary site ...... 9...... 9 Other ...... 10...... 10
Q9f WHAT OTHER TIMES OF YEAR DO YOU REGULARLY TRAVEL?
Jan ...... 1 Feb ...... 2 March ...... 3 April ...... 4 May ...... 5 June ...... 6 July...... 7 Aug...... 8 Sept...... 9 Oct...... 10 Nov...... 11 Dec...... 12
Q9g HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU IDEALLY LIKE TO TRAVEL IN THE FUTURE?
Weekly ...... 1 Monthly...... 2 Seasonally ...... 3 Yearly...... 4 Do not want to continue to travel ...... 5
Q9h IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU BEEN EVICTED FROM A SITE OR PITCH, OR FORCED TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO 10a
Q9i IF YES DID YOU LEAVE VOLUNTARILY ONCE EVICTION ORDER SERVED?
Yes ...... 1 No – if no how were you evicted? Police ...... 2 Bailiffs ...... 3 Other (please specify)...... 4 ......
Q9j HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU BEEN EVICTED FROM A SITE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
1-10 ...... 1 11-20...... 2 21-30...... 3 31-40...... 4 41-50...... 5 Above 50...... 6
7
SECTION C: YOUR RECENT ACCOMMODATION ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING WHERE YOU WERE LIVING BEFORE YOU CAME HERE? YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION D)
Now I’d like to ask you a bit about where you were living / had a base before you came to this site. (If asked, explain that Councils need to build up a picture of accommodation need in order to plan site provision.)
Q10a WHAT SORT OF ACCOMMODATION DID YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU CAME HERE?
This is my first / only accommodation...... 1 ) GO TO Q18a House / Bungalow / Flat / Maisonette...... 2 ) GO TO Q10c Supported Housing (including sheltered) ...... 3 Mobile home- permanent site ...... 4 Mobile home- transit sites...... 5 Touring caravan/ trailer- permanent site...... 6 Touring caravan/ trailer- transit sites ...... 7 )GO TO 10b Van ...... 8 Don’t Know Other...... 9
Q10b HAVE YOU EVER LIVED IN A HOUSE/BUNGALOW/FLAT/MAISONETTE?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q11
Q10c DID YOU OWN YOUR HOUSING, OR RENT IT?
Owner-occupier...... 1 Council tenant ...... 2 RSL/HA tenant ...... 3 Rented from private landlord ...... 4 Rent from family / friend /employer...... 5
Q11 WHERE DID YOU USE TO LIVE?
Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
Q12 DID YOU LIVE IN A TOWN OR A COUNTRY AREA?
City ...... 1 Town ...... 2 Village ...... 3 Countryside...... 4
Q13 HOW LONG DID YOU LIVE THERE?
Less than 1 week ...... 1 Less than 1 month ...... 2 Less than 3 months...... 3 Less than 6 months...... 4 6 months but less than 1 year...... 5 1 year but less than 5 years...... 6 5 years and over ...... 7
8 Q14 HAVE YOU EVER APPLIED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q17
Q15 (IF YES) WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
Granted ...... 1 Refused...... 2 Went to appeal and won ...... 3 Went to appeal and lost ...... 4 Current application...... 5
Q16 WHERE DID YOU APPLY FOR PLANNING PERMISSION?
Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
Q17a HAVE YOU EVER APPLIED FOR A SITE LICENCE?
No...... 1 Yes – what was the outcome? Granted ...... 2 Refused ...... 3 Current application ...... 4
Q 17b IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE YOU LOST A PITCH OR SITE, OR LOST YOUR LICENCE OR LEASE, DUE TO PARKING FINES OR RESTRICTIONS?
Yes, once ...... 1 Yes, twice...... 2 Yes, 3 times ...... 3 Yes, 4/5 times ...... 4 Yes, more than 5 times...... 5 No...... 6
9
SECTION D: YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY? YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION E)
I’d like now to ask a few questions about yourself and your family who live with you. (If asked, explain that personal issues like schooling and access to health care are important in planning site provision).
Q18a THINKING ABOUT EVERYONE WHO LIVES WITH YOU (IN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY), CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE, INCLUDING YOURSELF, IN EACH AGE RANGE?
Relationship Age Gender Respondent (tick all appropriate) tick box 0- 11- 16- 20- 30- 45- 60- 75+ M F 10 15 19 29 44 59 74
Head of 1 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Household
Spouse / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 partner 1 Child 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Child 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Child 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Child 4 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Child 5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Child 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 4 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 7 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Grandchild 8 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Parent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Parent 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Other 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Other 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 Other 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
If any aged between 4-18 go to Q18b – otherwise go to Q18d
10 Q18b DO YOUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ATTEND LOCAL SCHOOLS?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q18d Some...... 3
Q18c DOES YOUR ACCOMMODATION / SITE AFFECT YOUR CHILDS SCHOOLING?
No ...... 1 If yes: Difficulty in getting a school place...... 2 Disrupted schooling due to mobility...... 3 Afraid to send children to school due to local hostility...... 4
Q18d HAVE YOU HAD TO MOVE TO ACCESS SCHOOLING IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
No...... 1 ) GO TO Q18f Yes, once ...... 2 Yes, twice...... 3 Yes, three or more times...... 4
Q18e WHERE HAVE YOU HAD TO MOVE FROM?
Within the current area...... 1 From outside the current area ...... 2
Q18f ARE YOU REGISTERED WITH A DOCTOR IN THIS AREA?
Yes ...... 1 ) GO TO Q19a No...... 2
Q18g ARE YOU REGISTERED WITH A DOCTOR ELSEWHERE?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
Q19a DO YOU CONSIDER ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD TO HAVE A DISABILITY?
No...... 1 )GO TO Q20 One ...... 2 Two ...... 3 More than two ...... 4
Q19b DO YOU CONSIDER THAT THIS DISABILITY LIMITS YOUR MOVEMENT IN AND AROUND YOUR HOME?
Yes ...... 1 No ...... 2 )GO TO Q20
Q19c IF YES, DOES THIS MEAN YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER NEEDS SPECIAL PROVISION OF:
Adaptations to your home...... 1 ) GO TO 19d Regular medical treatment at doctor or hospital ...... 2 ) GO TO 20 Both...... 3 ) GO TO 19d
11 Q19d WHAT KIND OF ADAPTATIONS DO YOU THINK YOU NEED? CODE ALL
Ramps outside / inside ...... 1 (Additional) handrails outside / inside...... 2 Any other alterations for better access (e.g. doors widened)...... 3 Stair lift / vertical lift ...... 4 Stair rail ...... 5 Kitchen specially designed or adapted ...... 6 Bath / shower / toilet specially designed or adapted ...... 7 Bath / shower / toilet relocated ...... 8 Hoist (bath or bed) ...... 9 Electrical modifications (e.g. central heating controls) ...... 10 Mobility scooter store...... 11
Q19e HAVE THESE ADAPTATIONS BEEN MADE TO YOUR ACCOMMODATION ALREADY? You Local Authority Someone Else Yes ...... 1 ...... 1...... 1 No...... 2 ...... 2...... 2 Some...... 3 ...... 3...... 3
Q19f ARE YOU OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY WHEELCHAIR USERS
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
SECTION E: HARASSMENT
ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING HARASSMENT?
YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION F)
Q20 HAVE YOU OR ANY MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD EXPERIENCED ANY HARASSMENT AT YOUR CURRENT SITE?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
Q21a HAVE YOU EVER LEFT ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE OF HARASSMENT?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO 21c
Q21b IF YES: DID THE HARASSMENT OCCUR: (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
On site...... 1 At work ...... 2 In school...... 3 Elsewhere ...... 4
Q21c WOULD YOU TAKE THE FEAR OF HARASSMENT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO MOVE AGAIN?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
12
SECTION F: WORK ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING WORK? YES/NO (IF NO GO TO SECTION G)
Q22a DO YOU LIVE HERE TO BE NEAR WORK? Yes, permanent work...... 1 Yes, temporary work...... 2 No...... 3 Q22b ARE YOU CURRENTLY...... Self employed ...... 1 Employed ...... 2 Unemployed...... 3 Retired ...... 4 )GO TO SECT G Housewife ...... 5 House-husband...... 6 Q23a DOES WHERE YOU LIVE MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET WORK? Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 )GO TO Q23c
Q23b GIVE THE REASONS WHY WHERE YOU LIVE MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET WORK? (CODE ALL MENTIONED) Location of site...... 1 Lack of postal address...... 2 Lack of storage for work equipment...... 3 Lack of access to work ...... 4 Other (please specify)...... 5
Q23c IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, HAVE YOU MOVED BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY GETTING WORK? Yes, once ...... 1 Yes, twice...... 2 Yes, 3 times or more...... 3 No...... 4
Q23d DOES YOUR WORK MEAN YOU NEED TO TRAVEL? Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 ) GO TO Q23g
Q23e WHERE DO YOU TRAVEL TO? (CODE ALL MENTIONED) Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
13 Q23f WHAT TIMES OF YEAR DO YOU TRAVEL TO WORK? Spring...... 1 Summer...... 2 Autumn...... 3 Winter...... 4
Q23g DO YOU NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE ON SITE FOR WORK? Yes – storage space ...... 1 Yes – workshop space...... 2 Yes – space for vehicles...... 3 No...... 4
SECTION G – FUTURE ACCOMMODATION
ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING YOUR FUTURE ACCOMMODATION? YES/NO (if no go to section H)
Now I'd like to ask some questions about your views on accommodation options for Gypsies and Travellers. (If asked, explain that building up a picture of the future needs of Gypsies and Travellers is important for planning site provision)
Q24a ARE YOU INTENDING TO MOVE FROM YOUR CURRENT SITE/HOUSE?
No...... 1 Never ...... 2 )GO TO Q27 Don’t know ...... 3 Within a month ...... 4 Within 3 months ...... 5 Within 6 months ...... 6 Within a year ...... 7 ) GO TO Q24b Within 3 years ...... 8 Within 5 years ...... 9
Q24b WHY ARE YOU INTENDING TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT SITE/HOUSE? (CODE ALL THAT APPLY) PROBE FOR MOST IMPORTANT
Accommodation ...... 1 Neighbourhood ...... 2 Neighbours / other people ...... 3 Location...... 4 Far from shops...... 5 Far from doctors ...... 6 Far from schools ...... 7 Far from work...... 8 Far from family ...... 9 Want to travel to a specific event...... 10 Always travel at this time of year ...... 11 Harassment...... 12 Nearer friends and family...... 13 Enforcement action...... 14 No security of tenure e.g. Private rented sector ...... 15 Site not permanent i.e. threat of eviction ...... 16 Don’t want to be in a house ...... 16 Do not like it here ...... 17 Other – please specify ...... 18 ......
14 Q24c WHAT AREA ARE YOU INTENDING TO MOVE INTO WHEN YOU LEAVE? (CODE UP TO TWO) Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
Q24d ARE YOU ON ANY SITE OR HOUSING WAITING LISTS? CODE ALL
Yes - Housing waiting list...... 1 Yes - Site waiting list...... 2 No...... 3
Q24e WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR CHOOSING THAT WAITING LIST?
Accommodation ...... 1 Neighbourhood ...... 2 Neighbours / other people ...... 3 Location...... 4 Close to shops ...... 5 Close to doctors ...... 6 Close to schools...... 7 Close to work ...... 8 Close to family ...... 9 Like it there ...... 10 Other – please specify ...... 11 ......
Q24f WHAT KIND OF LOCATION WILL YOU BE MOVING TO WHEN YOU LEAVE?
City ...... 1 Town ...... 2 Village ...... 3 Countryside...... 4
Q24g IF MOVING TO A SITE HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN TO STAY ON IT? 1 - 2 weeks ...... 1 2 weeks to a month...... 2 1 - 3 months ...... 3 3 - 6 months ...... 4 6 months – 1 year ...... 5 1 - 2 years ...... 6 Don’t know ...... 7 As long as possible before eviction ...... 8
15 Q24h WHEN YOU LEAVE ARE YOU PLANNING TO MOVE TO? Housing...... 1 ) GO TO 24n Local Authority site...... 2 Private site (e.g. caravan site) ...... 3 Transit site ...... 4 Roadside camp/car park ...... 5 Unauthorised encampment – privately owned ...... 6 Unauthorised encampment – Council owned...... 7 Site owned by:- Yourself or your family with planning permission granted ...... 8 Yourself or your family with planning permission not granted ...... 9 Another Gypsy or Traveller with planning permission granted...... 10 Another Gypsy or Traveller with planning permission not granted...... 11 Other site...... 12
Q24i HOW MANY VEHICLES / TRAILERS / VANS WOULD YOU REQUIRE TO ACCOMMODATE?
Write in the total number )
Q24j IN ADDITION TO ESSENTIALS SUCH AS WATER AND A WC, ARE THERE ANY FACILITIES IN PARTICULAR THAT WILL NEED TO BE PROVIDED, ON-SITE AND SEPARATE FROM YOUR LIVING ACCOMMODATION, AT YOUR NEXT SITE?
Sole use Shared use Electricity supply (mains) ...... 1 ...... 1 Electricity supply (generator) ...... 2 ...... 2 Gas (mains) ...... 3 ...... 3 Gas (bottled) ...... 4 ...... 4 Rubbish storage and collection (council supplied) ...... 5 ...... 5 Rubbish storage and collection (privately supplied) ...... 6 ...... 6 Shed / amenity building...... 7 ...... 7 Bath...... 8 ...... 8 Shower...... 9 ...... 9 Kitchen facilities ...... 10 ...... 10 Laundry facilities ...... 11 ...... 11 Fire prevention ...... 12 ...... 12 Play space ...... 13 ...... 13 Space for animals ...... 14 ...... 14 Space for visitors ...... 15 ...... 15 Work space ...... 16 ...... 16 Equipment storage...... 17 ...... 17 Parking...... 18 ...... 18
Q24k CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU THINK GYPSY AND TRAVELLERS USE TRANSIT SITES?
No alternative accommodation available ...... 1 Waiting (or in transit) for other accommodation...... 2 Other (Please specify) ...... 3 ......
Q24l WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN HOUSING IN THE FUTURE?
Yes ...... 1 ) GO TO Q24n No...... 2 ) GO TO Q24m
Q 24m IF NO DO YOU WANT TO KEEP TRAVELLING?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2 )GO TO 24q
16 Q24n IF YES WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS?
Bigger in space ...... 1 Warmer ...... 2 Cheaper to heat ...... 3 Safer...... 4 Better facilities...... 5 Access to Healthcare...... 6 Access to Schools...... 7 Access to Shops ...... 8 Close to Family ...... 9 Close to Friends / Support ...... 10 Other – please specify ...... 11
Q24o WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING ARE YOU INTENDING TO MOVE TO?
House...... 1 Bungalow ...... 2 Flat / Maisonette ...... 3 Supported Housing (including sheltered) ...... 4
Q24p DO YOU INTEND TO?
Buy ...... 1 Rent...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3
Q24q PLEASE GIVE TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME OF HOUSEHOLD (BEFORE TAX AND DEDUCTIONS, BUT INCLUDING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES) PROMPT FOR AN APPROXIMATION IF NECESSARY
Below £10,000 ...... 1 £10,000 - £20,000...... 2 £20,001 - £30,000...... 3 £30,001 - £40,000...... 4 £40,001 - £50,000...... 5 £50,001 - £60,000...... 6 £60,001 - £70,000...... 7 £70,001 - £75,000...... 8 Above £75,000...... 9
Q24r DOES YOUR HOUSEHOLD RECEIVE ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT? CODE ALL MENTIONED
Housing Benefit ...... 1 Income Support ...... 2 Pension Credit (replaced income support for over 60s)...... 3 Job Seekers Allowance ...... 4 Working Tax Credit...... 5 Disability Living Allowance ...... 6 Attendance Allowance (Disability for over 60s)...... 7 State Pension ...... 8 Other (please specify) ...... 9
Q25a IS THERE ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD (E.G. SONS, DAUGHTERS OR GRANDPARENTS) WHO IS LIKELY TO WANT THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT ACCOMMODATION IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS?
No...... 1 ) GO TO SECT H One ...... 2 Two ...... 3 Three or more ...... 4
17 Q25b DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATION OR SITE THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR?
House/bungalow/flat ...... 1 Supported Housing (including sheltered) ...... 2 Local Authority site...... 3 Private site (e.g. caravan site) ...... 4 Transit site ...... 5 Roadside camp/car park ...... 6 Unauthorised encampment – privately owned ...... 7 Unauthorised encampment – Council owned...... 8 Site owned by yourself or your family with planning permission granted...... 9 Site owned by yourself or your family with planning permission not granted...... 10 Site owned by another Gypsy or Traveller with planning permission granted ...... 11 Site owned by another Gypsy or Traveller with planning permission not granted ...... 12 Other site (please specify) ...... 13 ......
Q25c IS THERE THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO SHARE A SITE WITH YOU?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
Q25d DO YOU KNOW WHAT AREA THEY WOULD PREFER TO LIVE IN?
Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
Q26 WOULD THEY PREFER TO LIVE IN A TOWN OR A COUNTRY AREA?
City ...... 1 Town ...... 2 Village ...... 3 Countryside...... 4
18
SECTION H: IDEAL SITES ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING YOUR IDEAL KIND OF SITE? YES/NO (if no than go to Section I)
Finally I’d like to ask some questions about your views on your ideal kind of site. (If asked, explain that building up a picture of the ideal accommodation of Gypsies and Travellers is important for planning site provision) Q27 IDEALLY WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PITCHES THAT A SITE SHOULD HAVE? PROBE FOR TRANSIT AND PERMANENT Transit Permanent 1 - 5 ...... 1 ...... 1 6 – 10 ...... 2 ...... 2 11 – 15 ...... 3 ...... 3 16 – 20 ...... 4 ...... 4 21 – 25 ...... 5 ...... 5 26 – 30 ...... 6 ...... 6 Over 30 ...... 7 ...... 7
Q28 WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION/ LIVING UNIT BE? Touring caravan/ trailer- public permanent site ...... 1 Touring caravan/ trailer- private permanent site...... 2 Touring caravan/ trailer- public transit sites...... 3 Touring caravan/ trailer- public transit sites...... 4 Other (please specify)...... 5 ...... Don’t know ...... 6
Q29 WHERE WOULD YOUR IDEAL LOCATION BE? Ashford...... 1 Maidstone ...... 2 ) GO TO Q30 Tonbridge and Malling ...... 3 Tunbridge Wells ...... 4 Elsewhere in Kent ...... 5 Sussex ...... 6 London ...... 7 )GO TO Q31 Elsewhere in South East ...... 8 Within the UK but outside the South East...... 9 Outside the UK...... 10
Q30 DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC AREAS IN WEST KENT THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD SITE? Probe for permanent AND transit sites) Permanent Site (please specify)...... 1 ...... Transit site (please specify) ...... 2 ...... Q31 IDEALLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN A TOWN OR COUNTRY AREA? City ...... 1 Town ...... 2 Village ...... 3 Countryside...... 4
19 Q32 WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL TYPE OF TENURE BE? Site owned by you and your family with planning permission granted ...... 1 Site owned by you and your family with no planning permission ...... 2 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with planning permission granted...... 3 Site owned by another Gypsy/Traveller with no planning permission...... 4 Site owned by Council ...... 5 Site owned by RSL/ HA ...... 6 Site owned by private landlord...... 7 Unauthorised encampment - privately owned ...... 8 Unauthorised encampment - Council owned...... 9 Don’t Know...... 10 Other (please specify)...... 11 ......
SECTION I: SERVICE PROVISION
ARE YOU WILLING TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AROUND SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE BOROUGH OR DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN?
YES/NO GO TO SECTION J
AT THE MOMENT THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THE COUNCIL’S AND THE ORGANISATIONS THEY WORK WITH ARE FOCUSING ON. CAN YOU TELL ME WHETHER ANY OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU BY RANKING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Q33a THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
Q33b EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
Q33c LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
20 Q33d SAFETY AND FEAR OF CRIME
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
Q33e TRANSPORT
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5 Q33f HOUSING
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5 Q33g HEALTH
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
Q33h COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Very important...... 1 Quite important ...... 2 Don’t know ...... 3 Not very important...... 4 Not important at all ...... 5
Q34 THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU MORE INFORMATION OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST MEANS OF SENDING YOU SERVICE INFORMATION? Post ...... 1 Telephone ...... 2 Email ...... 3 Internet...... 4 Other (Please specify) ...... 5
Q35 WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ON GRANTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO OFFER?
Yes ...... 1 No...... 2
21
SECTION J: FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
Q36 THE RESULTS OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE WILL FEED INTO A REPORT ON GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION NEEDS IN WEST KENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE A COPY OF THIS REPORT? YES / NO
Q37 THE GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION NEEDS REPORT WILL BE LAUNCHED AT A SPECIAL STAKEHOLDER EVENT IN EARLY NOVEMBER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT? YES / NO
THANK AND CLOSE
22 APPENDIX II
SITE AND HOUSED LETTERS
LA letter headed paper
Date
Dear Sir or Madam Housing Needs Survey - Looking at the needs of Gypsies and Travellers All the local Councils in West Kent will be carrying out a major study to find out more about local residents’ living circumstances and their current and future needs over the next five to ten years. As part of the study we are conducting face-to-face interviews with Gypsies and Travellers living in or visiting the area. We really hope that you will be willing and able to assist us. Not everyone who has been selected will be interviewed, but we are sending this letter in order that you know what to expect if an interviewer calls at your site. If you are selected, an interviewer from a company called Mill Field, who are working on behalf of the Councils, will call between 19th September and 8th October. The interviewer will have an identity card, which you should ask to see. The interview should last no more than twenty- five minutes. All the information you provide will be totally confidential and will not be used to identify you or your family or others traveling/ living with you. The information is very important because it will help the local Councils to develop housing and planning policies in the coming years. It also gives you the opportunity to tell us about the type of sites or housing and support that you think are important for Gypsies and Travellers. This can also help us when we make our case to the Government for funding to meet the needs identified through the survey. There is nothing you need to do in response to this letter. However, if you have any queries or want more information about the study, please contact xxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxx Officer, xxxxxxxx Council, telephone xxxxxxx or the DCA Research Team free on (0800) 169 7865. Thank you for your help in this important piece of work.
Yours faithfully
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx 23rd August 2005
Name Address
Dear
Re: West Kent Gypsy and Traveller Housing Needs Survey
Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council have commissioned David Couttie Associates (DCA), an independent research company to undertake research into the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers throughout West Kent.
As part of the study face-to-face interviews are being conducted with Gypsy and Travellers in West Kent both on sites and in permanent housing. If you decide to take part in this study, an interviewer from a company called Mill Field Services will call between 19th September and 8th October 2005. The interviewer will have an identity card, which you should ask to see. The interview should last no more than twenty-five minutes. All the information you provide will be totally confidential and will not be used to identify you or your household.
The information is very important because it will help the Council’s to develop housing and planning policies to help meet the needs of Gypsy and Travellers in West Kent in the coming years. It also gives you the opportunity to tell us about the type of housing and support that you think is important. If you would like to take part in this study please complete the tear off slip found at the bottom of this letter and return this in the pre-paid envelope. If you do not want to participate within the study there is no need for you to do anything more with this letter.
If you require any further information or assistance about this study please contact XXXXXXXXXX at Kent County Council on xxxxxxxxxx or the DCA Research Team free on 0800 169 7865.
We would be grateful if you could complete the tear off slip below and return it in the pre-paid enveloped provided by 9th September 2005.
Thank you for your help in this important piece of work.
Yours sincerely
Administering officer to place signature here
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
West Kent Gypsy and Traveller Housing Needs Survey
Name ...... Dated
Address......
...... Post Code
Contact Number ......
If you have a time when you know you are only available please circle the options below:
Morning Afternoon Evening
Date
Dear Resident
Housing Needs Survey - Looking at the needs of Gypsies and Travellers
Kent County Council is supporting surveys across West Kent into the housing needs of people living in Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells. The District Councils in those areas have employed an Independent Research Company called DCA to arrange the surveys.
As part of this West Kent survey, face to face interviews are taking place with Gypsies and Travellers. Your name and details will not be passed on to anyone else, nor will the fact that you took part in the survey, or the answers that you provide be quoted as from you.
The holder of this letter is from Mill Field Services who are being employed on behalf of the Councils to conduct these interviews with residents in your area. The interviewer will be carrying an identity card and you should ask to see it prior to the interview. If following their visit you have any concerns or questions about the conduct of the interview or wish to ask any questions about the surveys in general, please feel free to ring me, please contact xxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxx Officer, xxxxxxxx Council, telephone xxxxxxx, or the DCA Research Team free on 0800 169 7865.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for giving your time to help with this important piece of work and helping to make it a success for the Councils involved.
Yours sincerely,
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
APPENDIX III
SURVEY WEIGHTING SURVEY WEIGHTING
Background
The aim of the study was to conduct 200 interviews with Gypsy and Traveller households across the study area. After consultation with the steering group and examination of the July 2005 Caravan Count, it was decided to set a quota for each local authority area based on the caravan count.
Data from the survey was weighted to reflect the actual number of Gypsy and Traveller households in the study area. The Caravan Count was used as the basis for this calculation along side data from the survey showing the number of caravans per household on both authorised and unauthorised sites within each local authority area.
Weighting Process
The data was weighted to the total known Gypsy & Traveller population in each local authority area, with separate weighting applied to Authorised and Unauthorised sites.
¾ A - The number of caravans on authorised sites and unauthorised sites in each area was established from an annual caravan count. ¾ B - The average number of caravans per household was estimated from the (un- weighted) survey results for both authorised and unauthorised sites in each area. ¾ A divided by B = Total number of households on both authorised and unauthorised sites in each area.
Weighting Factors
Authorised
Caravan Avg. Living Units Interviews Weighting Count (July Households per Household Achieved Factor 2005) Ashford 80 2.324 34 36 0.944 Maidstone 169 1.903 89 62 1.435 Tonbridge & 41 1.761 23 21 1.095 Malling Tunbridge 23 2.000 12 15 0.800 Wells
Total number of households on authorised sites across study area: 158
Unauthorised
Caravan Count (3 year Avg. Living Units Interviews Weighting annual Households per Household Achieved Factor average – July 2005) Ashford 6 2.428 2 7 0.286 Maidstone 27 3.052 9 19 0.474 Tonbridge & 32 1.500 21 2 10.500 Malling Tunbridge Wells 10 2.333 4 9 0.444
Total number of households on unauthorised sites across study area: 36
Gypsy & Traveller Households in Housed Accommodation
As we have no information on the actual number of Gypsy & Traveller households living in bricks & mortar housing, results from the survey of housed Gypsies & Travellers have not been weighted. APPENDIX IV
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
GLOSSARY
Accommodation The act of providing something (lodging or seat or food) to meet a need
Bricks and Mortar Permanent mainstream housing.
Caravans Mobile living vehicles used by Gypsy and Travellers. Also referred to as trailers.
Caravan Count A bi-annual caravan count takes place across the country, as the official record of numbers of caravans
Concealed Household A Concealed Household is someone living within a household wanting to move to their own accommodation and form a separate household (e.g. adult children living with their parents).
Data Processing and The process by which the responses on a questionnaire are Analysis converted into numbers or categories. These are then used to produce outputs such as tables and charts.
DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government
Emergency Stopping Place A Gypsy and Traveller site intended for short-term use. The distinction between this and a transit site is that these sites usually have fewer facilities and are intended to only host stays of a few days.
Enforcement Action Any legal action taken by the landowner or Local Authority to remove campers from either an authorised or unauthorised site.
Forced Eviction Last resort when enforcement action has been taken and the campers are legally required to leave.
Gypsy Members of Gypsy and Traveller communities. Usually described as Romany (English) Gypsies. The term is not acceptable to all Travellers.
Household One person living alone, or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping – that is, they normally share at least one meal per day and the housekeeping costs. Any students or school children that normally live there should be included as part of the household, even if they are currently away at school, college or university.
Implied Households The total numbers to be derived after applying a grossing factor, calculated by responses to household numbers. Where multiple choices are not involved, this will generally equate to the population of the local authority / study area as a whole but some individual questions may not be answered by all respondents, giving a marginally lower total
Mobile Home Legally a ‘caravan’, but not usually capable of being moved by towing.
New Age Travellers Fairly recent groups of Travellers with varied origins.
1 DCA
ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now DCLG see above)
Pitch Space provided on a “plot” of land to accommodate a trailer / mobile home.
Plot A piece of land rented under licence to a household; this may include a single or double “pitch” on which to accommodate a trailer / mobile home
Romany Gypsy Member of the Gypsy and Traveller Community.
RSL Registered Social Landlord, sometimes called a Housing Association (HA). Manage social housing.
Settled Community Reference to non-travellers (those who live in houses).
Showmen / Showpeople Travelling people who work in the circus / fairs.
Site An area of land laid out and used for Gypsy and Traveller caravans. An authorised site will have planning permission (and a site licence if privately owned) for use as a Gypsy caravan site.
Social Housing Housing which is provided to rent (or on a shared ownership basis) at below market cost for households in need by Local Authorities or Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).
Stopping place site An area of land identified for use by Gypsy & Travellers in transit.
Trailer Term used for a mobile living vehicles used by Gypsy and Travellers. Also referred to as caravans.
Transit Site A Gypsy & Traveller site intended for short-term use by Gypsy and Travellers. The site is normally permanent, while its residents are temporary and a maximum period of stay is usually imposed.
Traveller Member of travelling community. Often used to refer to Irish Travellers. This term is generally acceptable to all Gypsy and Travellers.
Unauthorised Development Gypsy and Traveller sites are among the types of development which require planning permission. DCLG state that this term is used where such development is carried out on land with the agreement of the landowner but without the appropriate planning permission.
Unauthorised Encampment The DCLG define this term as the encampment of caravans and / or other vehicles on land without the landowner or occupiers consent and constituting trespass.
2 DCA
APPENDIX V
SUMMARY OF CARAVAN COUNT
Analysis of the Caravan Count
The bi-annual Gypsy Caravan Count places a duty on local authority to identify the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans within their local authority boundaries on 31st July and 31st January each year. The count has been carried out since 1979.
Although the accuracy of the data has been questioned the Caravan Count none the less provides the most accurate estimation of the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in the study area and is used as the starting point in estimating the number of Gypsy and Traveller households, as shown in table 1-1 of our main report.
Nationally there has been a growth of 6.9% in the number of caravans recorded since July 2003 (1,011 additional caravans), giving a total of 15,711 caravans counted in July 2005. There has been a growth in the supply of authorised site provision nationally (446 on socially rented sites and 458 on private sites), although there remains a significant issue with unauthorised camping which has grown by 2.7% since July 2003 and in July 2005 accounted for 25.9% of all the caravans counted.
The South East of England region had 798 Gypsy and Traveller caravans in July 2005, representing 5% of the total nationally. The table below shows the number of caravans counted nationally, for the south east of England and for each of the West Kent authorities between July 2003 and July 2005.
402 caravans were counted in West Kent in July 2005, representing 50.4% of the total for the south east of England.
The table shows that 49.4% of unauthorised camping was in Maidstone, 30.3% in Tonbridge and Malling. There was a relatively low level of unauthorised activity in Ashford (8 caravans) and Tunbridge Wells (10 caravans) in July 2005. The biggest growth in unauthorised camping has been in Maidstone, an increase from 20 caravans counted in July 203 to 44 in July 2005. The number of caravans counted on unauthorised sites in Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge wells has remained fairly constant; Ashford has seen an increase from just 2 caravans in July 2003 to 8 in July 2005.
In terms of authorised site provision 54% of caravans in July 2005 were in Maidstone, 26% were in Ashford, 13% in Tonbridge and Malling and 7% in Tunbridge Wells. The only district to record any significant growth in caravans on socially rented sites was Tonbridge and Malling, an increase of 10 caravans between July 2003 – July 2005. In terms of private rented sites growth has been focused on Maidstone, there were 36 more caravans on private authorised sites in July 2005 compared to July 2003
Table 1-1 Caravan Count
Area Date Total Unauthorised Socially Private Sites Rented Authorised Authorised Sites Sites Nos. % Nos. % Nos. % England July 05 15,711 4,067 25.9 6,458 41.1 5,186 33.0 Jan 05 15,341 3,565 23.2 6,420 41.8 5,356 34.9 July 04 15,009 4,232 28.2 5,979 39.8 4,798 32.0 Jan 04 14,362 3,571 24.9 5,916 41.2 4,875 33.9 July 03 14,700 3,960 26.9 6,012 40.9 4,728 32.2
South East July 05 798 210 26.3 275 34.5 313 39.2 England Jan 05 678 206 30.4 145 21.4 327 48.2 July 04 553 152 27.5 137 24.8 264 47.7 Jan 04 641 133 20.7 244 38.1 264 41.2 July 03 727 184 25.3 269 37.0 274 37.7
Ashford July 05 88 8 9.1 19 21.6 61 69.3 Jan 05 93 12 12.9 19 22.6 62 66.7 July 04 88 8 9.1 19 21.6 61 69.3 Jan 04 82 5 6.1 19 23.2 58 70.7 July 03 102 2 2.0 26 25.5 74 72.5
Maidstone July 05 213 44 20.7 32 15.0 137 64.3 Jan 05 167 28 16.8 30 18.0 109 65.3 July 04 118 17 14.4 0 0 101 85.6 Jan 04 150 17 11.3 32 21.3 101 67.3 July 03 155 20 12.9 34 21.9 101 65.2
Tonbridge July 05 68 27 39.7 38 55.9 3 4.4 and Malling Jan 05 60 27 45.0 30 50.0 3 5.0 July 04 30 29 96.7 0 0 1 3.3 Jan 04 59 28 47.5 30 50.8 1 1.7 July 03 68 39 57.4 28 41.2 1 1.5
Tunbridge July 05 33 10 30.3 9 27.3 14 42.4 Wells Jan 05 24 9 37.5 3 12.5 12 50.0 July 04 22 10 45.5 3 13.6 9 40.9 Jan 04 28 10 35.7 8 28.6 10 35.7 July 03 27 10 37.0 7 25.9 10 37.0