Public consultation responses
EERA recieved over 2000 responses to the public consultation on the Issues and Options consultation document on Planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England.
Please click on the links below to open summaries of the responses to each question.
- Question 1 (1.1MB - PDF)- Do you think 1,220 net additional residential pitches is a reasonable estimate of the level of unmet need for residential pitch provision taking into account how this may change over the period until 2011?
- Question 2 (1.2MB - PDF) - If you think 1,220 net additional residential pitches is not a reasonable estimate of need what alternative level do you think is a more reasonalbe estimate of need at 2011? Please make clear why.
- Question 3 (1.6MB - PDF) - On the basis of information currently available is it helpful if the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) revision seeks to establish policy on the level of need for transit pitches? And, if so, would it be more helpful to distinguish this provision from the need for residential pitch provision in policy?
- Question 4 (1.4MB - PDF) - Should this revision seek to establish policy on the level of pitch provision beyond 2011? If so, what assumptions should be used to do this and until what year should they be applied?
- Question 5 (2.1MB - PDF) - To what extent is it reasonable to seek to spread the distribution of pitches from the council areas where need is calculated to arise? Will a more dispersed distribution still meet the needs of Gypsies and Travellers? Would a different pattern of dispersal seeking to re-distribute provision from areas of greatest need into nearby council areas be more appropriate than option 2?
- Question 6 (1.2MB - PDF)- Is it reasonable to accept the principle that each local council area should seek to provide at least one additional site?
- Question 7 (1.6MB - PDF) - In light of the above consideration of locational issues, is there any evidence to suggest that any council area within the East of England could not make provision for a level of pitches in the order of that shown in the two illustrative options without having an adverse impact on areas of recognised environmental importance? Are there any other environmental or policy constraints that may be so significant to influence the distribution of pitches between council areas?
- Question 8 (1MB - PDF) - To what extent is it reasonable to rely on the delivery of sites by Gypsies and Travellers themselves or by the development industry?
- Question 9 (1.3MB - PDF) - In view of the potential scale of pitch provision needed in the East of England and constraints on public funding available is it reasonable to suggest that most of the need identified is likely to have to be met by provision on 'exception' or other sites that would not normally be granted planning permission for other forms of housing?
- Question 10 (1.2MB - PDF) - In view of the scale of potential need for new sites identified, is there a need to develop new means of providing Gypsy and Traveller sites, such as through the establishment of some form of specialist delivery organistation?
- Question 11 (1.2MB - PDF) - In the light of the proposed draft Circular is it appropriate for the revision to seek to identify the number of pitches that should be provided in each local council area to meet the needs of Travelling Showpeople separately from those to be provided to meet the needs of Gypsies and Travellers? If so, what evidence is available to inform this and what other issues should be taken in to consideration?