Calls to locate sites for Gypsies and Travellers

The authorities said providing authorised sites helps to reduce unauthorised encampments

Several local authorities in East Sussex are calling for residents to help locate permanent sites for Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots.

The councils involved include Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Wealden District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA).

The authorities said it was part of the national planning policy to assess and plan for the accommodation needs of all communities.

In a joint statement, they said providing authorised sites "helps reduce unauthorised encampments and improves community relations".

"There is no evidence that well-planned and managed sites cause problems for local communities," they added.

The authorities said each proposed site would be assessed to ensure it was "suitable and sustainable" for both residents and the wider community.

"This helps ensure everyone has access to safe, secure, and appropriate living conditions," they added.

The types of sites the councils are looking for include permanent residential pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, transit sites for temporary stays, and yards for Travelling Showpeople, which could include space for residential use, equipment storage and vehicles.

Sites of all sizes will be considered, including sites as small as 500 sq m (1641 sq ft), which is roughly the size of a tennis court.

Landowners, developers, agents and parish councils can also put in proposals.

Submissions close on 5 October.