New plan to prevent illegal traveller sites in Hunts

HUNTINGDONSHIRE is likely to look for somewhere to put gypsies and travellers passing through the district, rather than have them set up illegal encampments at the roadside. What the council proposes is a single permanent site of eight to 10 permanent pit

HUNTINGDONSHIRE is likely to look for somewhere to put gypsies and travellers passing through the district, rather than have them set up illegal encampments at the roadside.

What the council proposes is a single permanent site of eight to 10 permanent pitches, probably run by a registered social landlord, such as the Luminus Group, which currently operates the county council-owned permanent site near the railway line in St Neots.

This would mean police would have powers to require travellers who colonised any unauthorised site to move immediately to the new authorised area.

Planners say a number of unauthorised encampments appear each year, usually at the roadside, such as caused nuisance and distress in the Giddings last year.

Other councils in Cambridgeshire are planning to make comparable provision.

But Huntingdonshire District Council does not believe there is any need to provide space for 'travelling show-people' because there is no demonstrable need, even though councils elsewhere in the county could plan to make a small number of plots available.

If HDC's cabinet agrees, planners will try to identify a suitable transit site.