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As part of the legally required GTAA, a survey is being carried
out targeting a representative sample of the Gypsy and Traveller
population in Somerset. To ensure a successful survey, members of
the Gypsy and Traveller community have been trained as community
interviewers by De Montfort University.
De Montfort University, who have been commissioned to carry out
the countywide GTAA, have devised detailed questionnaires, which
will be completed in 2010. The survey, much wider and more
detailed than previously undertaken will determine:
- The size of the Gypsy and Traveller community within
Somerset
- Travelling habits
- Employment issues
- Access to healthcare, education and other public services
- Number of pitches required
- Need and preferences for sites and emergency stopping places
needed
- Aspirations to move in, or out, of bricks and mortar.
Focus groups involving members of the travelling community will
also take place during the survey period. These will continue to
explore issues such as health, education, housing related support
and will also focus on community empowerment.
Cllr Ric Pallister, Portfolio holder for Environmental Health,
Housing and Planning Policy, comments that, "Gypsies and
Travellers are a minority group who have been a part of this area
of Somerset for many hundreds of years.
"Despite cultural, ethnic and lifestyle differences from the
settled community they are nevertheless our residents who have a
right to be here and a right to follow their traditional way of
life and values. To attempt to break their culture or deny
their unique ethnicity would be wrong. This is the most
comprehensive survey of their health, education, employment and
accommodation needs ever carried out.
"We have a duty to assist this community as it attempts to
adjust to the most significant changes that have impacted on them
over the past 50 years. Once completed, the survey will mean
that we are better placed to ensure that their needs are met and in
a way that will enable their ethnicity and cultural identity to be
fully recognised and kept alive, whilst promoting this in harmony
with the settled community.
"We are not blinkered, I do not see the world through rose
tinted glasses and it isn't going to be easy, but then most things
that are worthwhile are not easy. We will work to proactively
ensure that successful integration is achieved.
"Our role is to break down the prejudices and barriers that
exist. We have a legal obligation to provide pitches for Gypsies
and Travellers and it is in everyone's interest that we
succeed."
The Somerset GTAA is underway and the assessment is expected to
be completed in October 2010.
Our Spatial Policy Manager and Chairman of the Project
Group overseeing the production of the GTAA said "The Local
Authorities and other organisations on the Project Group are
committed to working with the Gypsy and Traveller communities to
produce accurate and meaningful survey findings. The extended
period of the survey (to October 2010) reflects the need to catch
different sections of these communities as they visit at different
times of year.
"De Montfort University, the Consultants commissioned after
competitive tender to undertake the survey, are experienced in
such work and are actively surveying at the present time.
"To date the project has gone well and is proceeding to plan
with positive engagement from the Gypsy and Traveller
representatives on the Project Group."
Once the GTAA has been produced it will be the responsibility of
the five Somerset district councils to ensure provision for Gypsies
and Travellers in their Local Development Framework
(LDF).
The framework will set out the number of pitches needed in each
district and identify sites to deliver this need through a specific
Development Planning Document. All district councils are currently
engaged on producing Core Strategies which must precede such
specific Development Planning Documents and must set out planning
criteria by which planning applications for Gypsy sites will be
determined
Government guidance issued in February 2006 requires council's
to assess Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA),
whilst recognising, protecting and facilitating the traditional way
of the life of Gypsies and Travellers, whilst also respecting the
interests of the settled community.
An increase in appropriate accommodation provision and choice
for Gypsies and Travellers throughout Somerset is likely to be one
of the main benefits from the GTAA.
The issue surrounding a community that has existed in the
British Isles since the late 1400s will not be resolved by
employing a "do nothing approach". The cycle of deprivation
still afflicting many in the Gypsy and Traveller community will
continue.
£18m will continue to be wasted year on year and the tensions
between the Travelling community and the settled community will
continue. It is for these reasons that our policies will
continue to be aimed at making provision to meet the needs of this
community just as we do for those in need of affordable
housing.
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