Gypsies and Travellers Plan approved for public consultation

It details how the council will meet the needs of the community and describes delivering “well-designed sites in keeping with their surroundings”, as well as “culturally appropriate accommodation for gypsies and travellers”.

The proposal to send the document out for public consultation was unanimously approved at the full council meeting on Wednesday, July 24.

The topic was described as “sensitive” by multiple councillors and numerous members of the public attended the meeting to witness the debate.

READ MORE: Plans for traveller site in Wiltshire to be debated

Cllr Botterill said he understood the upset in certain communities. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Five of these residents spoke during the meeting to voice their concerns regarding the location of some of the proposed sites.

Cabinet member for planning, Cllr Nick Botterill noted that the sites were “based on the best information available by the officers” and that the consultation would be an opportunity for people to express their views.

He acknowledged that there was “significant and profound opposition” to certain sites.

He said: “I fully appreciate that, I get it, I understand the upset that this process has generated in certain communities.”

Cllr Botterill concluded: “The ultimate aim is to bring some harmony to what has been highly divisive and contested in the past.”

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson described the plan as “way overdue” and added that there was “an awful lot” of “misinformation and prejudice against the gypsy and traveller communities.”

She said: “The leader says it’s time to take back control, I would actually say – who lost control in the first place?

“And that would be Wiltshire Council.”

The leader of the council, Richard Clewer, reminded councillors that it was “critical” that, during the public consultation, residents express any objections based on “planning evidence”.

He said: “It’s about making sure that any actual planning reasons come forward, because that’s what this will be determined on when it goes, eventually, to an inspector.”

The consultation will be held from Tuesday, August 20 until 5pm on Friday, October 4.

The council is holding an online engagement event on Tuesday, September 3, to which people must sign up before attending.

Further information events will be held at Salisbury on September 4 (4.30pm, Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre), Devizes on September 5 (4.30pm, Devizes Library), Chippenham on September 9 (4.30pm, Olympiad Leisure Centre), Royal Wootton Bassett on September 11 (4.30pm, Royal Wootton Bassett library), and Trowbridge on September 12 (4.30pm County Hall Atrium).