Otros procedimientos en el cuaderno del incidente de

17.1 Although nomadism and travelling is currently restricted to a certain extent, this remains an important feature of Gypsy and Traveller identity and way of life, even if only to visit fairs or visit family. Some Gypsies and Travellers are still highly mobile without a permanent base, and others travel for significant parts of the year from a winter base. More Gypsies and Travellers might travel if it were possible to find places to stop without the threat of constant eviction. Currently the worst living conditions are commonly experienced by Gypsies and Travellers living on unauthorised encampments, who do not have easy access to water or toilet facilities, as well as difficulties in accessing education and health services.

17.2 National policy is clear that there should be provision in order for Gypsies and Travellers who chose to travel to do so without resorting to stopping illegally or inappropriately. During the course of this assessment we have found clear evidence as to the need for

authorities to make provision for Gypsies and Travellers in transit. This is shown by:

- The records of local authorities and the information in Caravan Counts, both of which show a number of encampments within the Study Area;

- The fieldwork experiences of the study team who found a number of unauthorised encampments who declined participation in the

assessment on the grounds that they ‘were just passing through’; - The number of people who took part in the assessment who

indicated they often travel to the area, but who do not want residential accommodation; and,

- The level of interest in the provision of transit sites/stopping places in the area.

Assessing the need for transit pitches

17.3 The assessment of need for transit provision uses the need for

regularisation as evidenced by unauthorised encampments; as a result, the methodology for calculating the need for transit provision is similar to that for calculating the need for residential provision from

unauthorised encampments.

Households involved in unauthorised encampments

Findings: The Caravan Count shows potentially low numbers of unauthorised encampments for the Study Area. Survey information from the local

authorities indicates that in 2006 there were an estimated 39 separate

encampments. This is broadly reflective of previous years although authorities within the Study Area have experienced both higher and lower numbers of encampments. The year of 2007 has seen a slight increase in unauthorised

134 encampments which are thought to be due to flooding in adjoining areas, temporary reduction in transit pitches on 1 socially rented site and major regeneration in one area (Stoke-on-Trent) leading to greater open space providing opportunities to stop on.

Assumptions:

- Information from officers indicated that the vast majority of

encampments were thought to be either new or regular visitors to the area, as opposed to groups moving between areas within the Study Area. Assumes this to be 90% of encampments.

- The average encampment size during 2006 was 7 caravans although encampments could be between 1 and 25 units. The survey showed an average of 1.2 caravans per household. There was an average of 6 families on each encampment.

- It was felt by frontline workers that a number of families who feature on unauthorised encampments are repeat encampments over the study period (i.e. the local authority would be visited a number of times during the calendar year by the same family) this was felt to be the case in 25% of encampments.

Calculation: 90% of encampments during 2006 multiplied by average encampment size = 90% of 39 times 6 = 211 households minus 25% = 158 families.

Need for transit provision

Finding: 53% of households on unauthorised encampments were interested in using a transit pitch/authorised stopping place in the Study Area.

Assumptions:

- 53% assumed about accurate due to information provided by

respondents on unauthorised encampments about expected length of stay (short-term); reasons for stay (stop-over, family, work); and, the reported preferences from the survey.

Calculation: 53% of households involved in unauthorised encampment = 53% of 158 = 84 households/pitches.

17.4 This indicates that the authorities can expect to see an estimated 84 additional households require short-stay accommodation during one calendar year.

17.5 By taking into account that the main travelling months are, generally speaking, between April-October it seems reasonable to assume that the vast majority of this travelling will be done within this 6 month period. If a transit pitch has an upper time limit of stay of 4 weeks this

135 means that one 10 pitch transit site during the summer will have the capacity to cater for around 60 of these households.

17.6 Therefore, it is estimated that the provision of around 24 transit pitches will provide the capacity required to cater for the households identified as in need of transit accommodation. These pitches should be

distributed across the Study Area and a larger number developed in authorities which experience the greatest number of encampments.

Total additional need for transit pitches = 24 pitches

17.7 It is clear that travelling and resulting unauthorised encampments are complex phenomena. In order to assist Gypsies and Travellers in maintaining their cultural practices, the development of sites need to accommodate the diversity of travelling. It is important to note that the provision of an inappropriate form of transit accommodation may fail to reduce unauthorised encampment.

17.8 It is therefore important that flexibility is built into the provision of transit accommodation. There are two fundamental aspects here:

1. Larger pitches on residential sites provide the potential to meet the needs of short-term visitors.

2. Variety in transit provision is needed to cater for the variety of needs. This might include formal transit sites; less-equipped stopping places used on a regular basis; or, temporary sites with temporary facilities available during an event of for part of the year. 17.9 At a partnership level, a single transit site makes little sense.

Travelling occurs at various scales. The partner authorities are in an ideal position in order to plan, devise and implement a network of transit accommodation between the local authorities. In addition, the provision of transit accommodation is an area of opportunity where local and County authorities can work with adjoining regions, Counties and authorities to pool information and to ensure that proposals make sense in the wider context.

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18. An assessment of need for Travelling