It seems that the Epping Forest district is being "picked on" over the ongoing issue of additional traveller pitches.
The Government has told Epping Forest District Council that it must provide 34 more gypsy and traveller pitches by 2011.
Whilst I welcome the fact that the number is a reduction on the original figure, it is still far too many considering the number of pitches already provided in the Epping Forest district.
Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) is to be applauded for fighting its corner and persuading the Government to reduce the number but 34 pitches when some other districts and boroughs have been told to provide fewer additional pitches is still too many. EFDC already provides a large number of pitches, with many in the Nazeing and Roydon area. This will mean the minimum number of pitches in the district by 2011 will be 128. The big question now is where will these 34 pitches go?
The publication of the consultation document which listed numerous possible sites really blighted each and every area even though it was apparent that some of them were totally unsuitable for gypsy and travellers as they were some distance from the obvious amenities.
We are still in the same situation, with huge swathes of the district blighted by the threat of a traveller encampment. Delicate decisions still have to be made, and it would be of benefit to the whole district if these decisions could be taken sooner rather than later.
The Conservatives have pledged to replace the Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights which will help authorities deal with unauthorised traveller sites. Conservatives believe in social responsibility. Different people from different communities should be free to lead their lives in different ways. But this freedom must come with a responsibility to the wider community. The vast majority of travellers accept this, but a very small minority do not.
The Human Rights Act affects all the planning, eviction and enforcement decisions made by all public authorities, including councils and the police. It has made it more difficult to evict trespassers from private and public property and allowed travellers to defy planning law by going ahead with unauthorised development. Conservatives are pledging to replace Labour's Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights which will help address these problems.
The publication of the consultation document which listed numerous possible sites really blighted each and every area even though it was apparent that some of them were totally unsuitable for gypsy and travellers as they were some distance from the obvious amenities.
We are still in the same situation, with huge swathes of the district blighted by the threat of a traveller encampment. Delicate decisions still have to be made, and it would be of benefit to the whole district if these decisions could be taken sooner rather than later.
The Conservatives have pledged to replace the Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights which will help authorities deal with unauthorised traveller sites. Conservatives believe in social responsibility. Different people from different communities should be free to lead their lives in different ways. But this freedom must come with a responsibility to the wider community. The vast majority of travellers accept this, but a very small minority do not.
The Human Rights Act affects all the planning, eviction and enforcement decisions made by all public authorities, including councils and the police. It has made it more difficult to evict trespassers from private and public property and allowed travellers to defy planning law by going ahead with unauthorised development. Conservatives are pledging to replace Labour's Human Rights Act with a new British Bill of Rights which will help address these problems.
By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com
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