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  1. Published on: 30/11/2016 08:47 AMReported by: roving-eye
    There have been an increased number of unauthorised encampments of Travellers this summer when compared to previous years. However 6 of the encampments have all been the same group of Travellers moving locations.



    The Council’s adopted Unauthorised Encampment Policy, approved by Cabinet 14th
    April 2011 can be found on the Gypsy & Travellers page of the Council’s website:

    https://www.sefton.gov.uk/housing/ge...ravellers.aspx

    The policy is followed when an unauthorised encampment arrives in the borough.

    Point 6 in the policy states that it is the responsibility of the landowner to initiate the removal of the Travellers. When the Travellers are on Council land, that responsibility rests with the Council. The Local Authority can remove Travellers from any land, but it is the Council’s policy to give the landowner the opportunity to remove the Travellers.



    The legislation that the Council uses is the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec 77.

    The police do also have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to deal with unauthorised encampments in certain circumstances.

    As soon as the Council are notified of a new encampment in the borough, the welfare check is carried out as quickly as possible and the assessment is shared with all relevant Council Departments and external agencies (e.g.: Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Health Authority).

    If there are no welfare issues identified the lawful eviction process will commence if on Council land. This process can take several days to a couple of weeks, as there is a legal process to follow which involves serving notices followed by summons’ on individual caravans/ vehicles and court appearances.

    Gypsy & Traveller Site Provision
    The Council do have a Gypsy & Traveller site (Red Rose Park) in Broad Lane, Formby and any Gypsy or Traveller is able to apply for a pitch. The site is a long term residential site, and is usually fully occupied. The Council do not currently have a designated Transit Site to which Gypsy or Travellers can be directed to when they arrive in the borough.

    However the Local Plan has identified a potential Traveller transit site off New Causeway just off Liverpool Road, Formby (L38 1QA). The site would provide for up to 6 pitches which may, for a short term stay, accommodate up to 12 caravans.

    The Planning Inspector’s Report is due later this year and it is anticipated that this will confirm this transit site as an allocation. Once agreed as an allocation a planning application can be submitted for the transit site. It is likely that this will have to be provided by the Council on a long term lease from the landowner, who is agreeable to the site being used for this purpose.


    Once the Local Plan has been formally adopted (early 2017), it would be possible to design a scheme for the proposed transit site, and seek planning approval. However, there is no capital budget to support this. In the past Homes and Communities Agency funding has only supported permanent pitches rather than temporary ones.

    If a site were provided there would be running costs to meet. While there would be some income from usage, it is likely that the Council would still have to meet a net cost of approximately £20,000 per year. This would include salary for a site manager and site maintenance costs, none of which are budgeted for currently.
    Additionally the Council have identified three sites for permanent Travellers. This need is to meet the growth of our own settled Traveller population and is not intended for short term stay.

    Impact on the Council
    The impact to the Local Authority when dealing with unauthorised encampments can be significant and involves many Council departments; officer time to carry out the welfare checks, deal and respond to local residents concerns, legal assistance and land owning departments serving notices attending court and cleaning sites.

    The legal costs can be contained within existing budgets, but the greatest impact is the level of staff time diverted away from other duties.

    The Unauthorised Encampment Policy states that the Council will carry out welfare
    checks on all encampments that arrive, irrespective of the ownership of the land. Recent advice from our Legal Department states that Local authorities have an obligation to carry out welfare assessments on unauthorised campers to identify any welfare issues that need to be addressed, before taking enforcement action against them.

    Conclusion
    It is difficult to estimate the amount of resources required for Gypsy and Traveller related issues. When a site is established large amounts of Council resources from Housing and Regeneration and Legal support services are consumed quickly having a detrimental effect to other Council priorities and services. This summer has been particularly demanding as this short report sets out and summarises. Depending on the use of the Council land, other colleagues from other parts of the Council can also be involved in these matters such as leisure staff, car park staff etc.


    If the Council decided to develop a new Transit site, there would be a considerable cost to the Local Authority in obtaining or leasing the land from the current owner, creating suitable on-site facilities and the ongoing management of the site. There is currently no budget for this.

    Further an internal review is being conducted by officers to review current ways of
    working and communicating about such encampments and to establish if there are any other tools or agencies that can be deployed to deal with unauthorised encampments.
    You may comment here but news always gets more discussion at our facebook.com/groups/southportnews


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    Your Comments:


  3. peterv6153 says:30/11/2016 12:21 PM
    Would be nice to know if all the "travellers" paid the same amount of tax as the rest of us !

  4. Knot wright says:30/11/2016 12:34 PM
    as the proposed site is within a stones throw of a proposed large new build site , it will be interesting to see who wants to move in ....

    "that looks a nice house , but what are those caravans and vans we passed on the way in ?"

    sale over .......
    Last edited by Knot wright; 30/11/2016 at 12:40 PM. Reason: bit more BS

  5. cotton man says:30/11/2016 02:27 PM
    One thing that has always mystified me is why we rate payers have to shoulder the costs for provideing anything for these people whose objective is not to pay tax.
    If they choose to live as traveling itinerants then so be it, but they should pay their way. Any official area set up for them at councils expense must charge for the use of said site.
    Their vehicles must be impounded and heavy fines paid when they break any law.
    Their mindset needs adjusting to fit with the twenty first century.

  6. greenmachine says:30/11/2016 03:09 PM
    It seems a contradiction that the site in Formby is a long term residential site for travellers, obviously they don't do much travelling.

  7. PaulWilliams says:30/11/2016 03:36 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by greenmachine View Post
    It seems a contradiction that the site in Formby is a long term residential site for travellers, obviously they don't do much travelling.
    Yes that is right as they are fixed up there. And I can tell you it is the closest place to Hell on earth. Awful place.

  8. jonnybgood says:30/11/2016 03:39 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by greenmachine View Post
    It seems a contradiction that the site in Formby is a long term residential site for travellers, obviously they don't do much travelling.

    From the web,regarding Broad Lane Gypsy/Travellers using the site :https://www.sefton.gov.uk/housing/ge...ravellers.aspx

    We provide a permanent site for Gypsies and Travellers in Sefton.

    The site is located at Red Rose Park, Broad Lane, Formby L37 0AH. A weekly rent is charged depending on the size of the pitch. Single pitch per week £67.50, Double pitch per week £74.00, Single let as double per week £71.00

    If you wish to apply for a pitch at the site, please refer to our Allocation policy and submit an application.
    Unauthorised encampments
    We do not provide a transit site for Gypsies and Travellers moving through the borough seeking a short stay. As a result this can lead to unauthorised encampments.

    We have an Unauthorised Encampment Policy to manage these encampments in a way that addresses both the support needs of the Gypsies and Travellers and the rights of the settled community.

    Hence these Travellers NOT using the residential site in Formby,as they would need to pay to stay there.

    In the news today 30/11/2016,travellers arguing with Bailiffs in Taunton :http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ught-film.html

  9. tonyhey says:30/11/2016 04:36 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by peterv6153 View Post
    Would be nice to know if all the "travellers" paid the same amount of tax as the rest of us !

    Ahh, bless your naivety!!

  10. clegg says:30/11/2016 05:00 PM
    Would'nt it be good if Sefton council actually listened to the will of the people?
    A local referendum to assertain what the electorate want would be a good idea.
    My view? If the traveller/gypsies/trespassers want to live in Sefton then they must pay rates, taxes etc. and willingly abide by the same rules of behaviour and laws that govern the rest of us.

  11. abbeyroad says:30/11/2016 05:21 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by clegg View Post
    Would'nt it be good if Sefton council actually listened to the will of the people?
    A local referendum to assertain what the electorate want would be a good idea.
    My view? If the traveller/gypsies/trespassers want to live in Sefton then they must pay rates, taxes etc. and willingly abide by the same rules of behaviour and laws that govern the rest of us.
    It's all very well imposing rules and laws. Enforcing them is a different matter entirely.

  12. clegg says:30/11/2016 05:49 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by abbeyroad View Post
    It's all very well imposing rules and laws. Enforcing them is a different matter entirely.
    The operative words are "willingly abide"

  13. abbeyroad says:30/11/2016 07:17 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by clegg View Post
    The operative words are "willingly abide"
    Finding a traveller who would "willingly abide" to paying rates and taxes should be interesting. Good luck with that.

  14. Lancashire Mike says:30/11/2016 07:29 PM
    Due to the legal processes required to evict them and the time it takes for them to take place they are usually at a site for one weeks minimum and leave their mess
    behind. The law is an *** which they know how to use to their advantage and needs
    revising urgently to enable immediate removal of travellers from private or council land by the police at the request of the council or private landowner. Itinerant travellers should be made to co-operate with each other and made to fund campsites
    for themselves or driven back to Eire !!!!

  15. clegg says:30/11/2016 07:57 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by abbeyroad View Post
    Finding a traveller who would "willingly abide" to paying rates and taxes should be interesting. Good luck with that.
    I think you are just being deliberately obtuse and negative. I would be interested to hear any positive suggestions you may have to address the matter.

  16. gazaprop says:01/12/2016 07:21 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by clegg View Post
    I think you are just being deliberately obtuse and negative. I would be interested to hear any positive suggestions you may have to address the matter.
    On the contrary I find his comments to be pragmatic.



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