Hunt for more gypsy sites set to start soon

Concerns were expressed at a meeting of the county council's public protection select committee about the possibility of a big influx from Eastern Europe, which could add to growing demand.

The select committee was told that a report was currently being prepared at County Hall which indicated a need for about 90 additional pitches throughout West Sussex, plus 25 transit pitches.

This excluded the Chichester district, where a need for some 88 additional pitches had been identified, although this figure was going to be revised.

Committee chairman Cllr John Livermore asked whether an influx was expected from the new EU member countries in Eastern Europe.

"They could come here in their droves," he said. "If they come, what on earth are we going to do in the South East?"

Cllr Livermore commented that he understood the districts and boroughs could not find land for sites, even though they kept looking.

Neil Border, of the county planning services department, told the select committee that vast numbers from overseas were not expected in the short term.

Cllr Peter Evans said he was in the Blackpool area recently, where there was a big number of Romany people, from Romania.

"They seemed to be moving into transit camps, and this may be the start," he added.

For gypsies and travellers, their worst enemy was their reputation '“ and one of the biggest issues was bad trading practices.

Esther Quarm, of the legal services department, said the new transit pitches were needed so that police could direct people there if they were on an illegal encampment.

Once the report now being prepared was ready, it would go to the cabinet member responsible, Cllr Lionel Barnard, and to the districts and boroughs. The next step would be the distribution of sites in the county.

The districts and boroughs had to identify land and then build and manage the sites. There was no duty on the county council, which did not have the resources to take over the running.

The county continued to manage and maintain 10 sites, with 106 pitches, which were always fully occupied.

The cost of construction was met by 100 per cent Government grant, but this did not cover the purchase price of the land.

Provision of a new site could be up to 1m.

So far as the timetable for the provision of the new pitches was concerned, nothing was set in stone, but all districts and boroughs were advised to get on with it as quickly as possible.

Ms Quarm said that once all the permanent sites were provided, it was hoped this would get rid of a lot of the illegal encampments.