Transforming provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cornwall

Cornwall Council is committed to transforming provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cornwall.

We are using this site to provide information about the accommodation transformation programme.

Background

Through Cornwall Housing we currently manage three residential Gypsy and Traveller sites – Boscarn Parc, Wheal Jewel and Foredown Parc - and the South Treviddo transit site, as well as providing a range of other Gypsy and Traveller services.

We have a legal duty to provide facilities to the travelling community. Following a review of the current provision, we are looking to significantly improve living conditions for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cornwall by refurbishing existing sites and, where need is identified, extending other services.

After successfully securing Government and other funding to support the accommodation transformation programme, we are currently working with partners to draw up plans for the refurbishment of the Wheal Jewel site.

We want to work with communities and other stakeholders to develop the programme and, once further work has been done on identifying specific proposals, will be engaging with local residents to help shape the plans.

Once the plans for Wheal Jewel have been developed they will be submitted to the local planning authority for consideration when members of the public and stakeholders will be invited to give their views as part of the statutory planning process.

The accommodation transformation programme is taking place alongside the development and delivery of a wider Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy. This Strategy is focusing on ensuring that Cornwall’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller residents have good access to services and facilities and are accorded the same consideration in policy approaches as the wider population. For example, it is widely acknowledged that members of the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller community have significantly worse health outcomes than the general population and experience substantial health inequalities and we want to put in place measures to rectify this situation.

Latest News

Update on Wheal Jewel and Treverno Road projects

Wheal Jewel

As part of the Council's commitment to transform provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cornwall, work is continuing to develop the plans to carry out significant improvements at the Wheal Jewel site.

Discussions are currently being held with existing residents to seek their views as to the best way to approach the redevelopment of Wheal Jewel. Following this initial engagement, the designs will be subject to resident consultation before agreeing the preferred design approach and the programme for carrying out the improvements. Further engagement will take place with residents and local stakeholders as the project develops.

Treverno Road

Following the clearance of overgrown vegetation and discovery of large quantities of fly tipped material at Treverno Road at the end of last year, a number of surveys and site investigations were carried out to support any future planning applications on the land.

These investigations showed a higher level of legacy contamination than was first envisaged. As a result it has been decided not to progress with plans to develop the site at this time, but the Council will be exploring alternative uses.

For further information please email housingdelivery@cornwall.gov.uk