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Gypsies and travellers: 'Build us five sites' COMMENT ON THIS STORY
GIPSY and Traveller leaders have challenged Leeds City Council to save up to £1m – by building five new caravan sites.
Since March 2006, Leeds taxpayers have had to fork out nearly 1.4m to cover clear-up costs after unauthorised camps on council land.
Last week, the YEP reported that the bill stands at a minimum of 10,000 a month.
But Eileen Lowther and James Connors, two senior members of the Traveller community, say just 50 extra caravan pitches on five sites would solve the problem.
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However, Coun Les Carter, the council's housing chief, said city councillors had been asked to identify possible sites in their wards, but none had done so.
Mrs Lowther said the Travellers who keep setting up – and being evicted from – camps are the same families.
She explained: "They are Leeds people, this city is their home. There is no room on Cottingley Springs so they keep being shifted around, and every time that happens it costs money.
"The new sites would pay for themselves quickly enough through the rent."
Mr Connors added: "The contracts for new sites would be good for the building trade with the recession that is on."
Helen Jones, director of Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, said: "Five sites would spread the accommodation around the city. It would be easier for the settled community to cope with new families in their area if they see other parts of the city are doing the same."
Coun Carter said the authority was bound by Government guidelines, which say sites must be near GPs, health services, bus routes, shops, and schools.
He said: "Finding a site that meets these requirements and that fits alongside existing communities would be a significant challenge."
He said there was evidence across the UK that where sites had been built, there had been no fall in the number of unauthorised camps.
Coun Carter said he believes the number of unofficial camps would drop if neighbouring councils to Leeds built their own sites.
He added: "It is my view that unauthorised parking should be made a criminal offence, which would mean that encampments were moved with greater speed. Such a law exists in southern Ireland."
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 10 February 2012
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