St Albans City and District Council has issued legal proceedings against the government challenging the number of pitches it is expected to provide for the accommodation of the gypsy and traveller community in the District.
The Council already provides for 52 gypsy pitches to serve the needs of the gypsy and traveller community in the District. This is more than any other district has made provision for in Hertfordshire. However, the Council is now being asked to find space in the District for a further 28 pitches between 2006 and 2011, and another estimated 24 pitches between 2011 and 2021, making a total of 104.
While the Council appreciates there may be a need for more gypsy pitches across the East of England, it is not convinced that there has been a robust assessment of what the need actually is. Also, the proposed increase in number for the District is disproportionately high and there has been no assessment of the impact. Furthermore, in order to meet the proposed increased number of pitches, it is very likely that land in the Green Belt would be lost.
Cllr Chris Brazier, portfolio holder for planning and conservation at St Albans City and District Council, said: “The Council has already done the right thing by making provision for pitches for the use of the gypsy and traveller community in the District at a level which is considerably higher than many other districts in the county. The proposed increase would, given the environmental constraints that the District faces, threaten our Green Belt and result in an extra burden being placed on our already overstretched schools and other services. We have therefore issued legal action against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government challenging the number of additional pitches that the district is being asked to provide."
The Council is challenging the figures contained in the East of England Regional Assembly’s policy on ‘Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the East of England’, a document that forms part of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England and which has been approved by the Secretary of State. It issued and served legal proceedings on Thursday (27th August) in the High Court against the Secretary of State asking for those parts of the policy that relate to the District to be quashed on the grounds that the increase in the number of pitches is disproportionately high.
Member contact:
Cllr Chris Brazier, deputy leader and portfolio holder for Planning and Conservation at St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 823586
Contact for the press:
Amanda Wilkinson, communication officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
1. The East of England Regional Assembly’s policy on ‘Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the East of England’ must be followed by St Albans City and District Council in putting together its Local Development Framework, a document that sets out the spatial planning strategy for the district. More information on the policy is available on the website for The Government Office for the East of England.
2. This policy has to be followed by the council in putting together its Local Development Framework (LDF), which sets out the long-term spatial planning strategy for the district. The core strategy for the LDF has been put out for public consultation until 28th September. To find out more about The Emerging Core Strategy – Shaping Our Community Consultation visit the Council's website.