Assessment Of Gypsy And Traveller Accommodation Needs Approved

Welsh Government has formally approved an assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs in the Caerphilly county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In February 2016, Caerphilly County Borough Council submitted a report to Welsh Government outlining the findings of their assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers living or travelling through the county borough. This assessment was carried out in line with Part 3 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, which requires all local authorities in Wales to undertake an assessment and, where an unmet need is identified, make provision for residential site pitches. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The assessment involved surveys with members of the Gypsy Traveller community to develop an understanding of their accommodation needs and to identify whether any provision is needed to address unmet need. The assessment found that there is currently no need for either a permanent or transit site within the Caerphilly county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Poole, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said “The council welcomes Welsh Government’s approval of the assessment. The assessment is critical in providing the council with a greater understanding of accommodation needs throughout the county borough and what we need to do to address these needs. On behalf of the council, I would like to thank those members of the Gypsy Traveller community who took part in the survey; their involvement was key to the findings of the assessment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council will continue to monitor the ongoing accommodation needs of members of the Gypsy Traveller community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​