Churches
Network for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma
DORCHESTER
Dorset
Dominic
Raab MP
House
of Commons
London,
SW1A 0AA
Consultation:
Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments
Dear
Mr Raab,
Yet
again, a there seem to be proposals underway to make life ever more
difficult for Gypsies and Travellers, and yet again, the consultation
is entirely negative in terms of the impact it is having on community
relations and the well-being of the Gypsy and Traveller communities.
We
deplore the fact that the consultation is couched in such negative
terms - “dealing with” is a term ill-suited to the need to tackle
problems which successive Conservative Governments have created for
some of the most vulnerable people in our country.
Churches
Network for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma strongly suggests that the
questions which needs to be asked are:
-
What aspects of current policy are creating conditions which impel people to continue travelling and to occupy unauthorised sites? (1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act and 2015 Planning policy guidance for Traveller sites to name but two)
-
How could Gypsies and Travellers who wish to settle on designated sites be assisted to do so?
-
What mixture of publicly provided and private sites do we need and how do we achieve this?
-
What good practice is there which enables local authorities to create safe and harmonious conditions for travelling families and local communities? (Negotiated stopping, for example)
-
How can the enormous prejudice which compromises the health, education and welfare of Gypsy and Traveller families be addressed?
Please
do not hesitate to contact us if you require clarification of any of
the points made above. We are a national network of ordained and lay
Christians from a variety of different denominations, committed to
aiding understanding and acceptance of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
Yours
sincerely,
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