GYPSY AND TRAVELLER STRATEGY

GYPSY AND TRAVELLER STRATEGY

A MAJOR strategy is to be launched to improve services for gypsies and travellers in Carmarthenshire.

Plans have been drawn up to give the group more access to accommodation in the county and better support for their education, heath and social care needs.

The Penybryn site in Llanelli will be improved and work will be carried out to improve relations between the gypsy and traveller communities and others in the area.

Plans will be put in place to deal with unauthorised encampments, with the council, police and other agencies working together.

Carmarthenshire County Council is behind the move, aimed at developing services for gypsies and travellers.

The authority has received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to support the strategy.

Officers say they need a proper understanding of the movements and encampments so they can plan for their housing, education and health needs.

It follows a survey of 28 families in the county in the past year.

Residents in the council owned Penybryn site at Bynea, private sites and the Westover site in Whitland were interviewed about their needs, health and education .

The council’s Head of Housing Services Robin Staines said: “There is a growing requirement to produce a strategy that addresses access to health and education, future provision, enforcement and the future of the authority’s site at Penbryn.

“Our immediate focus is on accommodation and management of the Penybryn site, access to services and dealing with unauthorised encampments fairly.”

Carmarthenshire’s gypsy and traveller population includes Welsh Romany gypsies, Irish travellers, Polish gypsies and New Age travellers.

Research shows that there are around 12 unauthorised encampments in the county in any one year.

As well as the site at Penybryn, there are five residential sites that are licensed and four where planning permission has been refused.

Officers have worked closely with travellers, councillors, Assembly Members along with the police and representatives from health, education and planning on the draft plan.

Extensive consultation will be carried out from November to February and the strategy is expected to be implemented by May next year.

Housing Executive Board Member cllr Hugh Evans said: “The strategy demonstrates the council’s commitment to improving its approach to gypsy and traveller communities, and to ensuring that their voices are heard.

“For those nomadic people who travel through our county, we will be clear about where and how they should access facilities, which will enhance their aspirations and sustain their ways of life, whilst recognising the aspirations of our wider communities.”