By a Labour Hub correspondent

Gypsy, Roma and Travellers have lived in England and practised a nomadic way of living since before the 16th century. Nomadism is an important feature of the histories and cultures of Romany and Irish Travellers as well as enabling people to find work and economic security.  

The Government has failed to accommodate the nomadic way of life in England. According to Government statistics, 1,035 Traveller caravans are located on unauthorised encampments, although this is thought to be an underestimate.

The Government has now brought in new policing powers to evict Gypsy, Roma and Travellers from unauthorised encampments and to criminalise trespass. They can now be sent to prison, fined or have a family home taken away from them.  

In October 2021, the charity organisation Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) wrote to all local authorities in England to enquire about pitch availability and waiting lists on their site. The research found that there were:  

• only 13 permanent sites and five transit sites with any available pitches for Gypsy and Traveller families in all of England,

• only 59 available permanent pitches in total for Travellers in all of England,

• only 42 available transit pitches in total for Travellers in all of England,

• at least 1,696 households on waiting lists for pitches on Traveller sites in England.  

This deplorable state of affairs needs addressing. The Government and local authorities should reintroduce pitch targets and a statutory duty onto local authorities to meet the assessed needs for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites.

Central government should ring-fence funding for local authorities to build Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites. It must also put an end to the increases in policing powers that criminalise trespass and unauthorised encampments.

We need a clear definition of a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller in planning terms that incorporates all who need a pitch to live on. Local authorities need to apply for funding available by the Government for pitches to help support Gypsy, Roma and Travellers on waiting lists.

Below is a motion from the Unite Housing Branch that was sent to and agreed by Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council in South London, calling on the London Borough of Wandsworth to meet its responsibilities towards Gypsy, Roma and Traveller residents. It can be adapted for use in your local area to apply pressure to your local authority.

Motion

The BWTUC calls on the LB Wandsworth to ensure Gypsy, Roma and Traveller residents are living in secure and safe housing. 

The BWTUC urges LB Wandsworth to assess Gypsy, Roma and Traveller need for permanent and transit accommodation and, in accordance with that assessment, introduce targets for the provision of permanent and transit housing for those groups.

The BWTUC urges Borough MPs to support the re-introduction of pitch number targets and the imposition of a statutory duty on local authorities to assess and meet the housing needs of these groups.

The BWTUC urges Borough MPs to support the provision of ring-fenced central government funding for local authorities to meet the assessed needs for housing of Gypsy, Roma and Travellers including the provision of dedicated sites in LB Wandsworth.

The BWTUC urges Borough MPs to support the repeal of legislation that criminalises trespass and unauthorised encampments and to resist the introduction of any further such legislation. 

The BWTUC urges LB Wandsworth to seek any available funding for the provision of housing for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and to use such funding to meet the assessed needs of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in LB Wandsworth.

Image: Traveller community. Source: News Øresund – Johan Wessman. Licence: CC BY 2.0.