A new Gypsy and Traveller site in Carlisle has achieved a national award.

The new development in Low Harker Dene scooped a North West Employers’ Equality and Diversity Award 2010, at a presentation ceremony held in Manchester late last month (Wednesday, 23 June).

The objective of the scheme was to provide the Gypsy and Traveller community in Carlisle with a decent, secure place to live, better enabling access to education, health and other public services. 

Following the award announcement, local residents of the new Gypsy and Traveller Site at Harker celebrated the official opening of their new home, on Saturday, 26 June, with an afternoon of fun-packed activities, including the North West heat of ‘Travellers Got Talent’.

The site was officially opened by the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Mary Styth and included a showcase of Gypsy and Traveller history and culture. Visitors were able to view an exhibition about Gypsies and Travellers, look at old family photos and ask questions.

In addition to the official opening, local community members, along with the residents on site enjoyed an afternoon of activities including the North West heat of ‘Travellers got Talent’, a national competition that forms part of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month during June.  The winner of the heat will go on to represent the North West at the National Final in Suffolk on 8 July.

The new Gypsy and Traveller site is located at Low Harker Dene, in the North East of the city and was funded by a £1.96 million Government grant.  Carlisle City Council was the only council in Cumbria to submit a bid to Communities and Local Government’s Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant.

Managed by Home Space Sustainable Accommodation CIC, on behalf of Carlisle City Council, the development includes 15 pitches, varying in size.

Cllr Olwyn Luckley, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, 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 welcome the completion of the new site.”

The 15 pitches were designed to Government guidelines and each pitch has an amenity block, adequate space for parking and space for caravan accommodation.

Environmental measures such as solar panels, reclaimed slate for roofing and a Klargester sewage system that actively treats sewage before safely discharging it, that complies with environmental regulations, have been incorporated into the new build.

Within the new site layout, there is a children’s play area, street lighting and a community centre for residents, which is also available for use by the settled community.  As well as these new facilities, a manager and site office is also located on the site.

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 had planning consent and has been used by Gypsies and Travellers in the past.