Gypsies and Travellers

Finding sites in Dorset for Gypsies and Travellers

Dorset councils, including Bournemouth have a legal obligation to identify sites to meet the current and future needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the county. Consultants have been appointed by all Dorset councils to suggest locations that could be suitable.

Consultants, Bakers Associates, appointed by all Dorset councils, have suggested four locations that they think could be suitable in Bournemouth. These are:  

• 10 transit pitches on land off Park Road, Lansdowne (bordering the Wessex Way and public car park off Lansdowne Road)
• Three residential pitches on green belt land near Erlin Farm, Muscliffe Lane
• Five residential pitches on green belt land at Careys Road, off Broadway Lane
• Eight residential pitches on green belt land on the edge of urban development at Throop Road, between Woodbury Avenue and the allotments

Having an agreed number of transit pitches available in Bournemouth will mean the police can use powers to quickly move travellers who camp illegally on private or public land – a problem which has affected many areas of the town over the years. Having an authorised site can reduce anti-social behaviour and disruption to travelling families’ education and health. 

Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Communities and Planning said:

“The sites in Bournemouth are not endorsed by us as a Council. However, Government is insisting that we consult with our residents on the suitability of these sites for gypsy and traveller accommodation. I can certainly give assurances that we will listen very carefully to what our residents have to say.”  

Have your say

Bakers Associates are carrying out a public consultation about the proposed sites from Friday 18 November until Friday 10 February 2012. 

Bakers Associates are holding four public exhibitions in Bournemouth to give residents an opportunity to find out more and give feedback. These take place on:

• Monday 5 December - visit anytime between 3.30–7.30pm at Bournemouth Training Centre, Jewell Road, Townsend
• Friday 9 December - visit any time between 2pm and 7pm at Muscliff Community Centre, Shillingstone Drive, Muscliff
• Tuesday 13 December - visit anytime between 3pm-7pm at Bournemouth Library, The Triangle.
• Thursday 5 January 2012 - visit any time between 11.30am - 6pm at Lansdowne Baptist Church, Lansdowne Road, BH1 1SB.

Residents can also feedback using the online consultation document at:

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/travellerpitchesconsultation|

 

If you know someone who does not have access to the internet, they can visit their local library and go online for free. Alternatively, pick up a leaflet - available at all Bournemouth's libraries.

Written responses can be posted to:

Planning Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Consultation
County Hall
Dorchester
DT1 1XJ

The deadline for comments is Friday 10 February 2012.

 

Timetable 

Allocation of appropriate permanent and transit sites for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople within Dorset for the next 15 years forms part of a ‘Development Plan Document’ (DPD). The current timetable predicts that it will take between two and three years for the DPD to be formally adopted. Local communities, landowners, businesses and organisations will have opportunities to have their say throughout the process

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see the following PDF document for Frequently Asked Questions|