Judge tells council 'speed up delivery of Gypsy sites'

[Mark]

Judge tells council to speed up delivery of Gypsy sites
Date: 23 April 2008
by David Callaghan, PlanningResource
Ref: http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=evy8v6I45fgwfuI2

A high court judge has told South Gloucestershire Council to stop delaying
plans for Gypsy and traveller sites in its area.

Mr Justice Collins said any further slippage in the council’s timetable
for providing caravan sites would have to be for “a very good reason”.

The council’s Gypsy and traveller development plan document is planned for
formal adoption by the end of 2010.

The judge said that government guidance did not allow a bar on any
development in the green belt, as the council was currently attempting to
do.

He did though dismiss a challenge to the council’s local plan from a Gypsy
woman, Elizabeth Smith.

She said the council was one of the worst in England and Wales for failing
to provide facilities for Gypsies and travellers.