Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment
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Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Final Draft: 27th October, 2010 Jo Richardson, Dan Allen, John Bloxsom, Tim Brown, Sarah Cemlyn, Margaret Greenfields and Ros Lishman 1 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Acknowledgements The project team would like to thank everyone involved in the research project. We are particularly grateful for the advice and information from Sally Woodbury and Maggie Smith-Bendell of the Romany Gypsy Advisory Group South West, Tony Thompson and Emma Nuttall of Friends, Families and Travellers, Rachel Inman, Julez Jones, Sioux How and everyone at the Robert Barton Trust. The project team would like to acknowledge the work of all the community interviewers who undertook the survey; this study would not have been possible without their hard work and local knowledge and expertise. Thank you also to Lucy Workman at the Traveller Education Service and Debbie Harvey at the Children‟s Society. Finally, thank you to Andy Foyne at South Somerset District Council, and all of the key contacts at the district and county councils for information and advice, and to Patsy Wallace for clear project timetables and guidance. 2 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Contents Executive summary Pg 4 1. Introduction Pg 6 2. Research Methodology Pg 9 3. Context and Policy Background Pg 21 4. Findings: Current Accommodation, Site Management, Pg 34 Travelling and Population Information 5. Findings: Future Provision of Sites Pg 59 6. Analysis of Pitch Requirement across Somerset up to 2015 Pg 77 7. Findings: Work, Education and Training Pg 95 8. Findings: Health, Services and Safety Pg 104 9. Focus on: Young People Pg 119 10. Focus on: New Travellers Pg 124 11. Focus on: Women and Health Pg 130 12. Ideas for Site Delivery: planning for the future Pg 134 13. Conclusions and Recommendations Pg 141 14. References Pg 151 15. Appendices Pg 153 3 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1) This Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment has been prepared by a project team, led by De Montfort University in Leicester, for the county and district councils in Somerset. (2) The research team, as part of its methodology, trained members of the Gypsy and Traveller community in Somerset to undertake especially tailored surveys for the project. 157 surveys were achieved throughout the period of research and information from these were used in combination with other desk-top research and information provided by the client councils to inform the calculation of pitches required between 2010 and 2015 (and an estimate up to 2020). A transit pitch requirement and a Showmen‟s yard requirement were also calculated. Pitch requirement across Somerset The report outlines a need for 131 additional pitches across the study area between 2010 and 2015. The detail and stratification by district is provided in chapter six. An estimated 64 further pitches will be required by 2020. Transit provision is needed for around 100 caravans by 2015 across Somerset. The detail and stratification by district is provided in chapter six. At least 4 Showmen‟s yards needed by 20151 Summary of pitch requirement by district Pitches 2010 - Pitches 2015 - Transit Pitches 2015 2020 Mendip 69 24 80 Sedgemoor 24 10 5 South Somerset 10 8 10 Taunton Deane 25 19 5 West Somerset 2 3 0 2 131 64 100 1 Only one Showmen’s survey was achieved in the sample, so this need relates solely to the identified need for the one family surveyed. 2 Due to rounding of figures during calculation (see table 6.2 in the main report) there is a difference of 1 between rows and columns in the main set of figures for 2010 – 2015 between the study area as a whole and the total of all districts. The collective calculation for the county results in a figure of 131; but when distributed by district the total is 130. 4 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (3) The study provided some qualitative and quantitative data on issues other than pure accommodation need. When examining current accommodation, the researchers found responses from residents on council-run sites which were of concern in relation to fire safety, and in some cases there were issues with repairs and maintenance. (4) In chapter five there are findings on the preferred type and location of sites with many respondents suggesting smaller family sites within Somerset, and others asking for traditional stopping places to be opened up again for transit provision. There are detailed suggestions of places where there should be sites, and these are outlined in chapter five; but many respondents just wanted a settled and secure place somewhere in Somerset. (5) In work and education, the study found that traditional patterns and types of work are changing with modern technology. The ability to access employment, without settled accommodation, is reduced. Education requirements, such as basic literacy, but also computer skills as well as some technical training, are detailed in the report. (6) For health, there are a number of Gypsies and Travellers who state they are in poor health and that this is exacerbated by their current accommodation, or lack thereof. Access to doctors seemed to show that most Travellers were registered with a GP, but fewer were registered with dentists. (7) In accessing and using other services there were perceptions that Gypsies and Travellers were discriminated against in service provision in some cases. There were also quite strong views that police were negative about Gypsies and Travellers and that the media portrayal of issues was also quite negative. (8) Three focus groups were held with (1) Young People (2) New Travellers and (3) Women about health. These groups are reported to establish the types of public service responses that are needed, in chapter nine to eleven. The full details of focus group conversations are included in the appendices to provide rich qualitative data on some issues. (9) Ideas for future site delivery are discussed in chapter twelve, but it must be noted that Mendip has led the way in an innovative approach to develop a community land trust scheme and that in the current political and economic climate, this model may be a good way of empowering the community to provide sites for themselves where that is appropriate. (10) A series of recommendations, summarising messages drawn out of the data throughout the report, are provided in the final chapter – thirteen. These include a pitch requirement for new sites, but also look at issues such as management, fire safety, community representation and opening up traditional stopping places. 5 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.1.1 De Montfort University and partners were commissioned by the councils (Somerset County, Mendip District, Sedgemoor District, South Somerset District, Taunton Deane District and West Somerset District) to undertake a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (GTAA) starting in October 2009 and completing in October 2010. The research process needed to fit the standards set out for accommodation assessments in the Government guidance, but there were further areas of enquiry that were important to the council on areas of health and education in particular. 1.1.2 Under the previous planning regime, the findings of the GTAA would have fed into a Regional Spatial Strategy and authorities would have been required to set out how they would meet the need for regionally agreed targets. These targets have now been abolished and it is the responsibility of each local authority to understand the need in their own area and to meet that need accordingly. It is therefore important to have current data in a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment to help inform this local debate. 1.1.3 This is a technical document which provides independent evidence of the accommodation need for Gypsies and Travellers in Somerset. Councils are required to undertake regular assessments of Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation need under a duty placed on them by the Housing Act 2004 (Section 225). An assessment of Gypsy and Traveller needs is also identified as a requirement of Strategic Housing Market Assessments which the Government requires Councils to produce. The Somerset Strategic Housing Market Assessment approved in 2009 did not address the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in the expectation that this specific Accommodation Assessment would be produced and provide the information on these needs. A GTAA was last reported in early 2006. This GTAA in late 2010 provides an up-to-date picture of accommodation needs up to 2015. The data can be used to underpin the Core Strategy for the area. 1.2 Framework of the report 1.2.1 This report sets out the findings of the research process according to a number of key areas of enquiry. Firstly, we set out the methodology which underpins the research process in chapter two of the report, and then the policy context for making decisions on Gypsy and Traveller site provision (which has been subject to much change with the new Coalition Government coming to power earlier in 2010) is provided in chapter three. 1.2.2 Chapter four presents the first set of substantive findings from the GTAA survey and it looks at a profile of the population in the county, issues relating to current accommodation, management of sites, as well as a debate on travel and transit needs. This leads into chapter five which sets out what Gypsies and 6 Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Travellers in Somerset would like the future provision of sites to look like – it provides information on site type, location, essential and desirable features of a site. 1.2.3 The calculation of pitch requirements is found in chapter six of the report.