New £1.96m Carlisle Gypsy and Traveller site

(Date of issue: Monday, 3 August 2009)

Carlisle City Council has thanked local residents for visiting a site open day at Ghyll Bank Gypsy and Traveller site.

Letters have been sent to Rockcliffe and Kingmoor householders today (Monday, 3 August) thanking those who attended the event, held last Wednesday (29 July), and urges those who were not able to come, to contact the City Council if they would like to see the proposed plans for the site or if they have questions.

The event gave local residents the chance to speak to representatives from the City Council and other agencies about the £1.96million development. Issues raised, which were not answered on the day, have been forwarded on to the relevant agency. Local people will also be kept informed on any information received back in response to these queries.

A £1.96million Carlisle City Council funding bid, to provide a new local authority managed Gypsy and Traveller site, was given the go ahead by the Government late last year. The open day was an opportunity for local residents to see what is planned for the site.

The City Council was the only council in Cumbria to submit a bid for a Communities and Local Government’s Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant. In the North West, there is £4million available, over the next two years, for local authorities to bid for.

Cllr Olwyn Luckley, Portfolio Holder for Health and Community Development, said:

“We believe that all our communities, including the Gypsy and Traveller community, should have access to good quality housing and accommodation, health care and education. We want to work with local residents to move the scheme forward and I am pleased that so many took up the opportunity to visit the site and give their views."

The site is to be located at Ghyll Bank, in the north east of the city. The grant will be used to include an area for 15 pitches designed to current guidelines and each pitch will have an amenity block, adequate space for parking and space for caravan accommodation.

Within the new site layout, there will also be a children’s play area, street lighting and a communal room for residents. As well as these new facilities, a manager and site office will be located on the site.

Work is due to start on the site in autumn and aims to open in early 2010.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

· Gypsy and Traveller site provision in Carlisle historically, in the main has been provided through the private sector.

· The Government requires local authorities, through its planning and housing roles, to identify land which could meet an identified need. Cumbria County Council and the six district authorities commissioned a joint study to carry out a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment to find out what the accommodation needs are for the Gypsy and Traveller community.

· The findings of the North West Regional Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment were published in 2007. This research identified a need across the whole of the North West. The Cumbria Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment went further and looked at need within each of the Districts within the county, this research identified a need within Carlisle that the City Council must address.

· An opportunity to attract funding into the area, to provide a quality Gypsy/Traveller site built to Government design standards that will be managed well, presented itself through the Communities and Local Government’s Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant.

· The potential availability of Ghyll Bank was seen as an ideal opportunity. The site has planning consent and has been used by Gypsies and Travellers in the past.