Purbeck District Council is to consult on possible sites for Gypsies and Travellers, but more are required across the district.
The government requires local councils to find suitable sites to accommodate Gypsies and Travellers within their areas. In Dorset, the district councils, county council and Poole and Bournemouth councils are working together to produce a joint plan for Gypsy and Traveller sites across the county. The councils have jointly appointed planning consultants, Baker Associates, to carry out this work.
Initial estimates have shown that 21 residential (permanent) pitches and 20 transit pitches would be required to meet the current need within the district of Purbeck.
Baker Associates used a number of sources to identify potential sites, including a formal request for sites; council-owned land; sites previously put forward for housing; sites owned by large private estates and sites with a history of Gypsy/Traveller use. At present, the consultants have only been able to shortlist four possible sites, these are:
- County Farm, Burnham Lane/Washpond Lane, Swanage (two pitches)
- Land off High Street, Herston Cross, Swanage (five pitches)
- Land at Washpond Lane and Ulwell Road, Swanage (two pitches)
- Land adjacent to Meadow View, East Burton Road, Wool (two pitches)
Purbeck District Council is now seeking residents’ views on the suitability of any of these sites.
Councillor Gary Suttle, Leader of Purbeck District Council, said: ““Gypsy and Traveller communities are recognised ethnic groups and providing for their needs is a duty of this council. It is very important that our local communities give us their views. We are also working to find other potential sites as clearly the current shortlisted sites are heavily weighted in two areas, we would prefer to have sites around the district. If anyone can identify other sites, we would like to hear about them”.
Councillor Suttle continued: “This is the first stage of the consultation process on a very complex issue and I wish to stress that no decisions have yet been made about sites and no decisions will be made until we get our residents’ views. Councillors believe that our residents views on this consultation will be the opinions that will form our strategy in this matter”.
A further public consultation would take place on any new sites put forward.
A public consultation on sites suggested so far in Dorset will start on Friday 18 November 2011 and will last for 12 weeks. Questionnaires and leaflets will be available from council offices and libraries. There will be a series of public exhibitions across the county and information will also be available at: www.dorsetforyou.com/travellerpitches
Purbeck District Council will discuss the sites and consultation at the November council meeting and dates and times of exhibitions in Purbeck will be confirmed after that meeting.
After the consultation, the results will be analysed. The council will then need to approve or reject the recommendations made. Any approved recommendations will form the basis of a revised development plan document. A public consultation on the revised document will then take place later in 2012.
Following this second consultation, the consultants will make any necessary changes to the document. If these are significant, councils will need to approve the changes. Following this, the councils will jointly submit the document for examination by the government.
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November 9th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Surely the best place for the traveler’s campsites would be the long stretch of verge from the roundabout at East Burton/Wool towards the Police HQ.
This is such a large area which is currently just kept neat and tidy.
If based there, they have good access to trains, schools and a regular bus route to all the main towns. and the police would be a good point of contact for all so near .
November 10th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
I’d like to think that the comment by Councillor Suttle about having a commitment to the travelling community is proven by having a duty to their needs implies they are all council taxpayers to the local community
I can’t see what commitments the council or the residents of Swanage have to these communities if they do not. I’m a council taxpayer and I cant even get extra blue rubbish bags when my children stay with me during hoildays and weekends!!!!
November 14th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Thank you for your comments. In order that comments can be counted as consultation responses, please could you kindly complete the response form which will be available on http://www.dorsetforyou.com/travellerpitches from Friday 18 November 2011. Alternatively, you can obtain a paper version of the response form at: Purbeck libraries; council offices; and at exhibitions at The Mowlem, Swanage (21st November 3.30 – 7.30pm); the D’Urberville Hall, Colliers Lane, Wool (1st December 2.00-5.30pm); and at East Burton Village Hall in January 2012 (date and time to be confirmed).