Cabinet to decide way forward on Gypsy and Traveller sites

South Norfolk Council's Cabinet will next week decide the way forward on Gypsy and Traveller sites, following one of the biggest consultations the council has undertaken.

The South Norfolk Gypsy and Traveller Working Group has now produced its report on the outcome of the eight-week consultation, which attracted over 1,500 separate representations from the community.

There were also petitions and hundreds of local people attended public meetings and drop-in sessions.

The Working Group has recommended that Cabinet back two proposed permanent sites of six to eight pitches each - one at Stanfield Road, Wymondham in the A11 corridor, and one at Old Harleston Road, Earsham, which is in the A143/A1066 corridor.

It has also been recommended that Cabinet back a proposal to discuss transit sites in the district with Norfolk Council Council which has responsibility for highways issues.

The council needs a site where Gypsies and Travellers can stay for short periods.

Ronnie Hoare, Chairman of the Gypsy and Traveller Working Group said:

"I want to thank the community for taking part in this consultation, because their comments have been invaluable and have shaped our proposals.

"It has been challenging, but it is in the public interest that we find sites this way rather than have sites imposed on us by the Government, which will then send us the bill.

"It is a legal requirement to find sites, and we have found two, small sites which cover a tiny fraction of our district. We are also still ahead of the queue of other councils looking for Government funding.

"Once we have sites, we should be able to take action against the unauthorised sites which have caused the council and our community so much concern in the past, and have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to deal with."

If Cabinet agrees the Group's recommendations, the council will consult again for another eight weeks, before going forward with final recommendations to the Secretary of State.

After that in 2010, a Planning Inspector will hold an examination of the proposals in public and people will get another chance to comment.

Of the permanent options which the council consulted on, the Working Group is also recommending not going ahead with sites at Ketteringham near the A47, Suton, Spooner Row, Brockdish and one of the two sites shortlisted at Earsham.

The full report can be found on the Council's website at www.south-norfolk.gov.uk in its Cabinet reports section. Members of the public can also follow the link from the "popular pages" element of the website home page.

Web links

• Cabinet report

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