Call For Potential Traveller Sites In Basildon

2 September 2014, 07:38 | Updated: 2 September 2014, 07:43

Land-owners in Basildon are being asked to come forward with potential sites for traveller pitches.

The Borough Council wants to identify sites to help meet the needs of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople.

Cllr Richard Moore, cabinet member for planning, said: "As part of the Government's Planning Policy for Travellers the council has to identify potential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople as part of the Local Plan process.

"The benefits of doing this are that in the future we will be in a much stronger position to enforce against unauthorised sites because we will be able to show that we have made every effort to find suitable sites.

"I would like to also make it clear that this is an exercise to establish if and where there are potential sites and each one brought forward will go through a rigorous process to assess its suitability."

Potential sites will be assessed for their suitability by Peter Brett Associates and included in a land availability report and database for the council to inform its Local Planning Authority responsibilities.

Any potential sites should be sent to: Sharon Jefferies sjefferies@peterbrett.com or by post to Peter Brett Associates, 10 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NT

The Call for Sites starts on Monday 1st September 2014 and will end at 5pm, Monday 13th October 2014.