Member Letter (Procedure rule 23.3): Housing policies relating to Travellers

The Housing section of the Council’s website states that the St Michael’s Way Traveller site (also known as Horsdean Traveller site) has 12 permanent caravan pitches and 21 transit pitches where caravans can be stationed for up to 3 months.

It states all transient pitches have access to water and electricity amenities and a communal shower block. There is a management building for the Traveller Liaison Team that provides links to other council services such as health and education.

In 2012 the Greens and Labour voted for this site to be built on South Downs National Park land at great expense to the city (£2.3 million) and a cost to the environment. This site opened in July 2016 and has been open for six years.

Residents are extremely disappointed that despite this facility having been built, travellers continue to use city public parks for their housing instead – including, this week, St Helen’s Park in Hangleton in my ward, which is within a conservation area.

This letter requests that the Committee Chair:

1. Outlines the Council’s current housing policies relating to travellers.

2. Informs the committee how many travellers are passing through the city each year and how this has changed over time since the Horsdean facility opened.

3. Advises housing take-up rates at the Horsdean Traveller site over the six municipal years it has been open.

Yours sincerely,

COUNCILLOR DAWN BARNETT

Councillor for Hangleton & Knoll Ward
Telephone: (01273) 291198
Email: dawn.barnett@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Conservative Councillor for Hangleton & Knoll Ward