Role of the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer
The Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer’s role is to improve
community cohesion around Gypsy and Traveller issues in Suffolk as
well as:
- respond to complaints about unauthorised encampments;
- ensure that authorities meet their legal duty to promote good
relations between different racial groups;
- work with other agencies in Suffolk to improve access to
services for Gypsies and Travellers;
- provide information and advice on all Gypsy and Traveller
matters;
- reduce the number of illegal encampments;
- work towards improving temporary and permanent sites
provision.
Working in partnership
All local authorities in Suffolk including the police, PCT and
Children and Young People’s Services are working together to
coordinate improved services for Gypsies and Travellers in Suffolk,
whilst balancing the needs of the settled communities.
A countywide Gypsy and Traveller steering group has been
established since 2006. This group meets quarterly with its
main aim to ensure the statutory, voluntary and county sector can
respond effectively to the welfare of Gypsies and Travellers.
Authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Suffolk
In Suffolk there are a number of authorised Gypsy and Traveller
sites, both council owned and privately owned. These are spread
across the following districts:
- Babergh - 1 pitch
- Forest Heath - 1 privately managed site with 35 pitches and 1
privately owned site with 12 pitches
- Ipswich - 1 local authority managed site with 41 pitches and 1
private with one pitch
- Mid Suffolk - 15 private sites with 69 pitches in
total
- St Edmundsbury - 2 private sites with 2 pitches in total
- Waveney - 1 privately managed site with 24 pitches
There are no authorised sites in Suffolk Coastal district.
The East of England Planning Inspectorate has proposed that under
the Housing Act 2004, provision for gypsy and travellers, a further
151 pitches be provided in Suffolk across the following
districts:
- Babergh - 15 pitches
- Forest Heath - 18 pitches
- Ipswich - 15 pitches
- Mid Suffolk - 42 pitches
- St Edmundsbury - 15 pitches
- Suffolk Coastal - 31 pitches
- Waveney - 15 pitches
Unauthorised encampments
An unauthorised encampment is where any person camps on land they
do not own.
Suffolk has developed a protocol (set of rules)
to:
- address the need for effective management of unauthorised Gypsy
and Traveller encampments whilst ensuring the rights of both the
Gypsy and Traveller and settled community are met;
- make sure the county, district and borough councils are working
together with all agencies to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers
and the settled communities.
Unauthorised developments
An unauthorised development is where any person has developed one
area of land for residential use but without planning
permission.
More information
Do you know about Gypsies and
Travellers (pdf 2606kb) is a leaflet that is
intended to provide some information about this
community and the role they play in the life of the
county. The leaflet provides some facts and busts a few of the
common myths, with the aim of providing information that will
support increased understanding and learning between different
communities in
Suffolk.
Gypsy and Travellers - frequently asked questions, myths and
facts
EIA Full Assessment (PDF, 53KB)
Gypsy & Traveller Strategy 2009-11 (PDF, 857KB)
Protocol for Managing Unauthorised Encampments (PDF,
53KB)