Study to Identify Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites In
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Study to Identify Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites in Cheshire West and Chester ANNEXES Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council July 2011 Annexes - Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites Report completed / submitted by: Simon Turner Date: 26 August 2011 Annexes - Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites TABLE OF CONTENTS A SCHEDULE OF CONSULTATION ACTIVITY ................................................................... 1 B GYPSY AND TRAVELLER AND TRAVELLING SHOWPERSON CONSULTATION SUMMARY REPORTS ....................................................................................................... 2 C SITE APPRAISAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... 3 D SCHEDULE OF REPRESENTATIONS .............................................................................. 4 E LONG LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES .................................................................................. 5 F LOCATION PLANS FOR SITES ON THE LONG LIST ..................................................... 6 G FILTERED LONG LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES ............................................................... 7 H LOCATION PLAN FOR SITES ON THE FILTERED LONG LIST ..................................... 8 I LIST OF SURVEYED SITES ............................................................................................... 9 J LOCATION PLAN FOR SURVEYED SITES .................................................................... 10 K SITE PLANS FOR SHORTLISTED SITES ...................................................................... 11 Annexes - Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites A. Schedule of Consultation Activity 1 CWaC Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites Study Consultation Activities • Press release issued October 2009 which went in the local papers. • News of the study was also placed on the front page of the Council website in October 2009, and information has constantly been on the Spatial Planning web pages. • A letter was sent to all Parish Councils in November 09, (approx 97), and Members were briefed in October 2011. • Letters were sent to approximately 150 stakeholders and interested parties in October 2009, and the call for sites and proforma were placed in all libraries and Council offices in October, along with an explanatory letter. The press release, website briefing, letter to members, members briefing and letter to stakeholders follow. Press Release: Date: 20th October 2009 Reference Number: 399/09 STUDY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL TRAVELLERS’ SITES THROUGHOUT WEST CHESHIRE Cheshire West and Chester Council have commissioned consultants to undertake a comprehensive study throughout West Cheshire, to identify and shortlist potential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show people. Lasting until next March, the study is designed to enable the Council to meet the Government’s requirements on permanent and and transit site numbers. The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) has published figures for consultation, which require Cheshire West & Chester to provide a minimum of 45 permanent pitches and 10 transit pitches by 2016. This provision will be met by a mixture of official sites of ten to 15 pitches and smaller private family sites. But Cheshire West and Chester, which already has 59 pitches on 5 sites, has challenged the RSS figures suggesting that new provision should be in a range between 31 to 45 new pitches, reflecting the findings of a comprehensive 2007 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment. Cllr Herbert Manley, Prosperity Executive Member said: Whilst we have this existing number of pitches, one of the sites only has an ‘accepted‘ status and the remainder are private. The Government want us to increase the number of official pitches to the consultation figure and whilst we are challenging this figure, we do accept the need for additional provision. “ The Council is committed to taking a proactive approach in planning for future provision of sites to meet the needs of this community. This study to identify potential sites will provide a robust evidence base to support the development plan process in line with planning policy requirements. “Having permanent sites provide certainty for everyone.” said Cllr Manley. “Not only are they beneficial for the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson community, but an absence of authorised sites has been used by the Courts and Planning Inspectorate throughout the country to justify retention of some unauthorised developments. “If sites are not identified it is likely that unauthorised encampments and developments will continue, sometimes in inappropriate and unsuitable locations which in the past have led to problems and local tensions, along with considerable expenditure in enforcement action, legal and clear up costs. “ Added Cllr.Manley: “It is important to stress that there will be consultation with the public both before and after a short list is agreed and also at the planning application stage.” The Council is committed to working more effectively in the fields of policy and site allocation, enforcement and effective liaison and community engagement with all parties. Comments are being invited from all members of the public on the proposed criteria which will be used to help appraise and identify suitable sites. A ‘call for sites’ is also being undertaken, and any suggestions of suitable sites and locations will be welcomed. Further details and information on how to submit sites or comments on the proposed criteria can be found on the Council website at http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/planning/spatial_planning.aspx or by writing to Spatial Planning, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Backford Hall, Chester, CH1 6PZ. The closing date for comments and site suggestions is Friday November 13th. Information is also available at all Council offices and public libraries in Cheshire West and Chester, or you can telephone 01244 973806 or 01244 972854. For further information contact Cllr Herbert Manley on 01606 79977 or Ian Callister on 01244 972216. ends Web Briefing: Potential Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpersons Sites The Council has commissioned a study to identify potential sites for Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpersons throughout Cheshire West. A consultation exercise is underway to seek your views on the criteria which will be used to shortlist potential sites, and for any suggestions for suitable sites to be put forward. This stage of the consultation will close on Friday November 13th. http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/planning/spatial_planning/potential_gtt_si tes.aspx Letter to Parish Councils: Dear Sir/Madam Re: Study to Identify Potential Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showperson Sites in Cheshire West and Chester The Borough Council is legally required to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in its area and facilitate the provision of pitches to meet any identified need. In terms of assessing accommodation needs, in 2007 a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) was undertaken for the sub-region of Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and St Helens. It identified a need for between 31 and 45 residential pitches and 10 transit pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in Cheshire West & Chester between 2006-2016. You will have been consulted recently about the Partial Review of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which identifies in its draft policies a minimum requirement for 45 residential and 10 transit pitches by 2016. The Partial Review still has some way to go before being approved and the Borough Council has objected to the figure of 45 pitches on the grounds that it isn’t consistent with level of need identified in the GTAA. The Borough Council will be pursuing this objection through the RSS Public Examination process. The Council takes its responsibilities for making adequate provision for Gypsies and Travellers very seriously. It is committed to working proactively to ensure that there is adequate accommodation for Gypsy and Travellers. The unacceptable alternative would be a reactive approach and a situation where the Council simply responded to continued unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller developments. We have already seen that in these cases, a lack of pitch provision has often resulted in unauthorised developments obtaining planning permission, particularly at appeal. The purpose of this letter is to advise you that, as part of this proactive approach, the Borough Council has commissioned consultants Ecosgen to carry out a study to identify potential Gypsy and Traveller sites in Cheshire West and Chester to meet the need that has been identified in the GTAA and the requirement of the RSS Partial Review when approved. The Study will also seek to identify sites for the provision of 10 Travelling Showpersons’ pitches by 2016. It is anticipated that the study will be completed in March 2010. There will be a number of stages to the study but, in summary, it will initially involve collating a long list of sites from various data sources. These sites will then be tested against a range of criteria to derive a short-list. These will then be assessed in more detail. The outcome of this ‘testing’ will be the identification of a number of sites that are the most suitable and deliverable for these types of development. The study is being carried out in accordance with a robust methodology and in an open and transparent way. Clearly this will not guarantee