Council To Reveal Gyspy Site Locations

Councils in Dorset have been progressing with proposals for permanent and temporary Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Dorset borough and district councils, including Bournemouth and Poole, have been working together with consultants Peter Brett Associates to prepare a countywide plan that identifies and allocates a range of Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites within Dorset.

Councils in the county consulted on the document between November 2011 and February 2012.

Almost 10,000 individual responses and 32 petitions containing more than 6,000 signatures were received within the consultation period, with further responses and petitions being submitted after the closing date.

These responses have now been analysed by the councils' consultant and a consultation report has been prepared.

The findings of the consultation will be reported to councillors to help to inform the next stage of the plan and the report itself will be available on www.dorsetforyou.com 

The government introduced a new planning policy for traveller sites in March. This requires local councils to look again at the way they have assessed the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in the past and to prepare new figures, if necessary. In light of this, Dorset councils have been working to identify sites for the travelling community in accordance with the new guidance.

Councils will consider carrying out a new assessment, which, once approved, will be completed in the first part of next year.

A number of new and alternative sites were suggested by members of the public and others through the consultation process. These will be investigated by the councils with their consultants following completion of the needs assessment.