Task group to deal with gypsy problem

A TASK group is to be set up by Warrington Borough Council to meet the accommodation needs of gypsy and traveller communities across the borough.
It will be chaired by Cllr David Keane (pictured), executive member for environment and public protection and will have two other Labour councillors – yet to be decided – and one Liberal Democrat and one Conservative councillor.
Tory leader Cllr Paul Kennedy and Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Bob Barr have been nominated by their groups.
Cheshire Police will also be represented on the group by a co-opted member.
The task group will identify the amount of land needed to accommodate the numbers of expanding or new traveller families within Warrington and ensure through the planning system that thr required amount of land is made available.
A gypsy and traveller local plan will be produced – hopefully by December.
Councillors originally agreed to set up the group in October last year and the idea was supported by police.
Cllr Keane, in a report to be considered by the council’s executive board, said evidence supports a need to deliver additional permanent and transit sites for the travelling communities in Warrington.
An increasing number of high profile unauthorised encampments and developments by travellers over the past 12 months has highlighted the urgency of the situation.
Failure to plan for the needs of travellers can lead to increased occurrences of traveller encampments, high levels of unauthorised development and, ultimately, decisions on planning for travellers being taken out of the council’s hands altogether.
A number of neighbouring authorities are making progress towards providing transit provision and if Warrington fails to keep pace there is a danger of the number of encampments in the borough will increase significantly.