A ‘CALL for sites’ exercise to identify additional permanent sites for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople has been issued by Stratford District Council.
The authority estimates it will need across between 59 and 70 additional permanent pitches across the district for Gypsies and Travellers plus six additional Travelling Showpeople plots to be delivered by 2035.
The main way the council meets this need is to allocate sites across for this type of accommodation and to do this it is reliant on land being brought forward for consideration by landowners and other interested parties.
It says any sites submitted will be assessed and used to inform the preparation of the Gypsy and Traveller and Traveller Showpeople Local Plan which the Council is currently preparing.
The planning system has an important role to play in ensuring fair and equal treatment for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople by enabling the provision of suitable accommodation.
Sites should be submitted by using the Call for Sites form available online at http://www.stratford.gov.uk/gandt and emailing it to [email protected] . The deadline for submitting sites is Monday, March 1, 2021.
The ‘call for sites’ runs alongside a consultation on the Council’s draft Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which runs until February 19 which landowners and other interested parties are encouraged to review and comment on.
Councillor Darren Pemberton, Deputy Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Place Portfolio Holder said: “This Council is determined to address the needs of both the ‘settled’ community and those of travelling communities in developing sustainable communities which meet the aspirations of all our residents.
“Identifying suitable sites that can be brought forward is pivotal in achieving this objective and I strongly urge landowners and other interested parties to think about how they can support us in creating balanced communities by specifically addressing the needs of this section of our residents.”
