Gipsy and traveller pitch plans for south west Hertfordshire 'irrational' (From Watford Observer)

Gipsy and traveller pitch plans for south west Hertfordshire 'irrational'

10:57am Thursday 23rd July 2009 in

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Politicians have slammed an “irrational” report that demands local authorities provide 63 additional gipsy and traveller pitches in south west Hertfordshire.

The report, entitled Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the East of England, which was published in Monday, set out the final figures for how many additional pitches each district in the region must provide by 2011.

Dacorum must create 20 pitches, Hertsmere 18, Three Rivers 15 and Watford must find room for ten.

In total there will be an additional 1,237 pitches across the East of England.

Three Rivers District Council said no plans had yet been made to determine the location of the pitches, but said the number prescribed was “far too many”.

Councillor Martin Trevett, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "We have campaigned against the allocation of this number of pitches prescribed by EERA since it was first made and we still oppose it - we must take into account the rights of all residents, not only gipsies and travellers.

"The allocation does not take account of the environmental constraints in our district such as the the green belt which makes up 77 per cent of land in the district. It also does not take into account the locational preferences of gypsies and travellers within the region "

Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill described the plan as “irrational”.

She said: “The whole thing is devoid of logic and flies in the face of evidence about need, demand and capacity.

"This irrational policy effectively punishes districts that have a small land area by setting minimum requirements for everyone regardless of size or capacity. We are the smallest district council in the country in geographical size and we are expected to do more than councils considerably larger. "

Dacorum councillor Ian Reay, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, said the pitches would be incorporated in new housing plans for the borough.

“Dacorum does not have sites available for extra gipsy and traveller pitches that are outside of the green belt,” he said.

“We are also under pressure to increase housing levels, which would also involve using green belt land, we will look to put gypsy and traveller sites as part of new housing developments.”

Councillor Hannah David, Planning Portfolio Holder for Hertsmere Borough Council, said 18 pitches was “sufficient”.

She added: “Six of the 18 pitches we are required to provide up to 2011 are currently in use in Potters Bar and we are looking at where the others pitches could go; one option is to extend existing sites in the borough in addition to allocating any new sites. No decisions have been made yet and we will carry out full consultation before anything is decided.”

Councillor John Reynolds, Chairman of the EERA, said: “We must get the balance right between addressing the serious disadvantages experienced by members of the travelling communities with the genuine concerns of the settled community.”