FAQs

Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are defined as minority ethnic groups under the Equalities Act 2010. There are a number of Gypsy and Traveller communities, each have different histories and traditions:

• Gypsies are Romany ethnic groups who have lived in Britain for around 600 years. Their ancestors originate from northern India.
• Irish Travellers are a nomadic group with a distinctive way of life who have been part of Irish and British society since ancient times.
• New Travellers are people of settled background who adopted a travelling lifestyle in the more recent past, although some are now in their third or fourth generation of travelling.

Cornwall Council is  required by law to assess the accommodation needs of all people living in the area they are responsible for; this includes Gypsies and Travellers. 

The current Gypsy and Traveller needs assessment was undertaken in 2015. Like all communities, the Gypsy and Traveller population is expected to grow. 

A new Gypsy and Traveller needs assessment is being arranged which will inform the local plan and any future Gypsy and Traveller Strategy .

Gypsies and Travellers have accommodation needs as much as the settled population and the Government requires us to identify areas where sites could go.

If sites can be identified through our planning processes it reduces the risk of illegal encampments which can cause conflict with the settled community and can cost us money if legal action has to be taken.

The Council would be in breach of planning guidance and could be taken to court. It would also increase the chances of an unauthorised encampment which could have a significant impact on local residents and the environment and be inappropriate for the gypsies and travellers themselves. Most importantly it would mean that some of our residents are not having their basic needs met.

Not all Gypsies and Travellers travel with the same frequency. Some groups are highly mobile, moving on to find work elsewhere and others live permanently in one area and only travel for a few weeks or months of the year. 

The main reason for travelling is to work and visit family and so a ‘base’ site is required from which to live when not travelling. As Gypsies and Travellers grow older and become less able to travel on a regular basis, some require a safe and secure place where they can maintain the cultural traditions of being a Gypsy or Traveller. 

Gypsies and Travellers also sometimes stop travelling temporarily to care for sick or elderly relatives or to continue a child’s education.

Also referred to as permanent sites, these sites are either provided by local authorities or are owned by Gypsies and Travellers. The sites are used as a long-term residence, are managed, and have a number of amenities, such as water supply, electricity, individual toilets, and utility rooms.

The term ‘pitch’ refers to the space required on a site to accommodate a Gypsy and Traveller household. There is no set size for an individual pitch. They can vary like house sizes depending on the number of family members. 

However, pitches should usually be large enough to provide space to accommodate a static caravan, a touring caravan which is used to travel around the country for part of the year, an amenity block with washing/cooking facilities, parking spaces and room to hang washing. 

Transit sites are authorised sites which are used for short stays. They are provided on a permanent basis by local authorities and have basic amenities and services which include water supply, shared toilets, washing facilities/utility room, and waste disposal. All transit sites are managed and are subject to rent and council tax.

Unauthorised encampments are defined by the Government as "encampments of caravans and/or other vehicles on land without the landowner or occupier's consent and constituting trespass". Unauthorised camping is not a criminal offence. It is a civil offence (trespass), giving landowners the right to repossess their property using the due process of law.

Similar to the settled community, Gypsies and Travellers work in a range of occupations: for example as teachers, academics, and health workers, while others work in the financial sector and in the sport, leisure, and entertainment industries.

Traditionally, Gypsies and Travellers have also worked in a variety of trades such as landscape gardeners, agricultural workers, laying tarmacadam, motor trade workers, scrap metal dealers, tree fellers and so on.

Gypsies and Travellers on authorised sites pay council tax, rent, gas, electricity, and other amenity charges. These vary from site to site but are often higher than comparable charges for conventional housing.

The law applies to them in the same way as to anyone else. If there is evidence to prove that an individual committed a crime then they will be arrested and charged. Where there is insufficient evidence to prove which individual in a group committed a crime it is much harder to arrest and charge them.

If sites can be identified through the planning process it will prevent the need for illegal encampments which often cause conflict with the settled community and can cost the Council money if legal action has to be taken.

 It is better for all members of the community if sites can be identified by agreement following consultation in suitable locations. By taking a positive approach we can have greater control over the identification of sites. It also means that if illegal encampments occur in Cornwall  the Council will be far more likely to be successful if it has to take action against those sites.

Private sites are sites developed on private land by individuals and are self-managed. Private sites   can range from  small in scale accommodating between 1 and 3 pitches, however they can be much larger. Not every Gypsy and Traveller has the means to develop their own land. Publicly managed sites are sites which are developed and operated by the Council. Cornwall Housing manages 3 residential sites in Cornwall with 66 pitches in total. The sites are managed and maintained by Cornwall Housing.

Any new sites should be designed to meet the good practice advice in the Department SITE ALLOCATIONS DPD: SUPPLEMENTARY ISSUES AND OPTIONS PAPER (November 2008) - 8 -of Communities and Local Government’s “Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites – Good Practice Guide (May 2008)” and minimise the impact on its neighbours

Properly established and managed sites are nothing like unauthorised encampments. Unauthorised encampments by their nature are uncontrolled and unregulated and can cause considerable problems for both the on-site occupants and the surrounding community. Properly set up and maintained sites have services and facilities on-site to establish safe, secure, and healthy communities. 

Both new Gypsy and Traveller sites will be subject to a detailed planning application before they are developed. A typical Gypsy and Traveller site includes a series of pitches, each of which include an area of hardstanding for a caravan or chalet style mobile home plus landscaping, an amenity block and vehicle parking which usually includes space for a touring caravan. Some sites may also include areas of shared space.

 The sites are connected to services such as water, sewerage, electricity, gas, and broadband. 

Consideration would always be given to access to services such as schools and doctors. In comparison to additional houses being built  the  potential level of additional pitches for Gypsies and Travellers is unlikely to place much strain on the local infrastructure.

In identifying possible sites the Government advises that “local planning authorities should first consider locations in or near existing settlements with access to local services e.g. shops, doctors and schools.”

 No. Gypsies and Travellers pay council tax to help fund everyone’s local services.

In assessing any potential sites the Council will consider the impact of any additional traffic generated on the local highway network and will ensure that any access into and out of the site meets the requirements of the Highways department of Cornwall Council.

There are Gypsy and Traveller children currently in schools in Cornwall  There is no evidence to suggest any school will be overwhelmed.

Smaller sites are easier to integrate into their surroundings. Smaller sites have little impact on local roads, schools, and other infrastructure. Also residents need access to services such as schools , hospitals etc in the same way as the settled community do .

There have been conflicts due to the establishment of unauthorised sites. If more authorised sites can be identified and provided then it should reduce the conflicts and lead to less negative coverage.

The best way to tell us your views is to complete the online response form which is available via the link below  XXXX

If you are a Gypsy or Traveller and are seeking local advice on accommodation or site services, or if you are in doubt on any matter relating to Gypsies, Travellers, and unauthorised encampments, please contact Cornwall Housing 0300 1234 161