Cornwall Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2015

Need a pitch on a Council site? Want to buy your own ground? Tired of being always moved on? This is your chance to have your say. 

Cornwall Council have commissioned an independent assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in the county. This piece of work follows on from a flawed assessment carried out in 2014. TravellerSpace and Ruston Planning Limited successfully challenged this assessment at Cornwall Council's Local Plan Examination. The Inspector recognised that it was not developed in conjunction with, or informedby, active engagement with representatives of the Gypsy and Traveller Community in Cornwall, so called for it to be carried out again.

This new study will provide Gypsies and Travellers with a way to speak about their accommodation issues and preferences.

TravellerSpace are working in partnership with Southern Horizons Limited and Dr Zoë James, from Plymouth University to talk with Gypsies and Travellers throughout the county over the next month. The study will focus on permanent pitch provision, but will also look at the need for transit sites and also Gypsies and Travellers currently living in housing.

We need to interview as many people in Cornwall as we can, to give the Council a clear picture of what is needed so Gypsies and Travellers have safe and secure places to stop.

The findings will be analysed by the research team and a written report including pitch/plot calculations will be given to the Council by November 2015.  The study findings are expected to help inform the Local Plan, which is the document that guides what development is to take place in Cornwall. 

We understand that people will be worried about passing on information to the Council, particularly if living on an unauthorised site.

All information given will be completely confidential - nothing will identify who you are or where you currently living to the Council.

There are also some separate questions at the end of the main survey about experiences of prejudice and victimisation.  These do not form part of the Needs Assessment and are purely voluntary if people wish to talk about their experiences.  This information will be used (anonymously) by Dr Zoë James as part of an academic study to inform policy around this important area of work, although a short briefing paper about the findings will be also prepared for Cornwall Council.

Why we think it is important to take part

Despite the changes made by the Government as to who will be considered a Gypsy or Traveller for planning purposes, there is still a need and a duty for Councils to find out how many Gypsies and Travellers are in the area and what their accommodation needs are.

The evidence we gather will help at least some people to get planning permission & may support any case for transit sites. It will show where sites are over crowded and where new pitches will be needed in the future as children grow up and have families of their own.

If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed, might be interested in becoming one of our interviewers, or just want to know more please contact 

Caroline on 07939 210 014 or email tspace@travellerspace-cornwall.org