I have received a 2-page reply to my letter from the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding the Government Policy on Permanent Gypsy and Traveller Sites. Within the letter it addresses the subject for the identification of suitable locations for pitches which says,
"...... such proposals should be subject to full process of consultation with Gypsies and Travellers themselves and also with local communities. Any Development Plan document setting out proposed locations for sites would be subject also to examination by a Planning Inspector to ensure that the planning arguments are sound."
As far as I am aware there was no FULL process of consultation with Gypsies and Travellers. There was a survey of needs but that is now 3 years old and contains out of date information. A FULL process of consultation with the local community, just did not happen - we all know that it was not transparent. They came back after the first (withdrawn) consultation with rules re-written and sites all re-evaluated, scored and shortlisted without any local community involvement. No one from Wymondham council was involved either.
When/if it goes to the Planning Inspector for examination let’s hope that they will evaluate it as the unsound document that it is. The Council's planning arguments for the sites proposed are, and remain weak.
