'We all have to be somewhere' says Darlington Gypsy Billy Welch as research reveals lack of pitches

A report by Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) reveals that whilst over 1696 households are currently on waiting lists for pitches, there are just 59 permanent and 42 transit pitches available nationwide.

Billy Welch, the country's Gypsy spokesman who lives in Darlington, praised the provisions across the borough and North-East, but said the picture is different in other areas of the country and called for more to be done to future-proof sites.

The most recent Government statistics show two Traveller caravans on unauthorised sites in Darlington in January 2020, up from zero in July 2019 but down from 13 in the previous January, highlighting an every-changing picture.

Mr Welch says families are forced onto unauthorised sites as, like "settled" families, Gypsy families grow and younger generations have nowhere to live when additional pitches are not introduced.

He said: "Families grow and then so does the demand for pitches.

"A shortage of pitches drives illegal camping at a place we shouldn't be, which is a problem for us and the settled community.

"Authorities think, oh if we don't give them pitches then they will just go away, but go where? We all have to be somewhere."

The picture differs across the region. There were no caravans on unauthorised sites in County Durham in January 2020, down from 25 in July 2019, while Redcar and Cleveland saw none both years.

"Gypsies are an ancient, nomadic community. We want to live in caravans, we are not just society's outcasts," Mr Welch added.

"People say to me, why can't you just live in a house? Well do you want to live in a caravan? No. I want to be able to live the way I want.

"There is a shortage of houses, more need to be built. Would residents then be happy if they all went to Gypsy and Traveller communities? No."

Mr Welch says his community has become more involved in politics in recent years as "engaging in democracy is the only way to see change".

He said: "We used to live in a bubble where nothing that the settled community said would make a difference, but things have changed.

"We all pay our council tax, TV licence and recycle. We realised the power of democracy.

"If we want to move forward and get things done, the best way to do that is through the ballot box."

To register to vote, a person must give an address, further stressing the need for permanent pitches for Gypsy and Traveller families.

Billy Welch

It comes as the community awaits a response to the Home Office consultation on criminalising trespass and increasing police powers against unauthorised sites.

Under Government plans, families living on unauthorised sites could face prison, a fine or the removal of their home.

Sarah Sweeney, policy and communications manager at Friends, Families and Travellers said: “It is deeply unfair that while the Government is dramatically failing to identify enough land for Gypsy and Traveller families to live on, the Home Secretary is working to create laws to imprison, fine and remove the homes of families living on roadside camps for the 'crime' of having nowhere else to go.

"The Government must do more to identify land for Gypsy and Traveller people to live and stop placing blame on the very families they have failed. Everybody needs a place to live.”

Local authorities say they work with Gypsy and Traveller communities to ensure there are enough sites, with Darlington saying the situation is kept under constant review.

Kevin Nicholson, cabinet member for health and housing, said: “The council has good links with the Gypsy and Traveller community, with ongoing opportunities for feedback.

"The council runs three caravan sites for Gypsies and Travellers – at Honeypot Lane, Rowan East and Rowan West, which was extended and improved in 2016 with a £1.8m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

"There are also 11 small privately-run sites, so there are excellent options for the Gypsy and Traveller community in Darlington, although this is something we keep under regular review.”

Stuart Timmiss, Durham County Council’s head of development and housing, reiterated this sentiment.

He said: “We own and manage six permanent Gypsy Roma Traveller sites in County Durham.

“In 2014/15 we increased the number of pitches by 10, taking the total number of pitches to 126; following consultation with the community and taking into account a range of issues such as waiting lists and turnover of plots.

Appleby Horse Fair 2016. Members of the Gypsy and Traveller community gather in the Cumbrian town for their ancient annual gathering. Billy Welch community elder: 2 June 2016.STUART WALKER. 50084466F002.jpg.

“There are also a number of pitches in the private sector which again have increased over the last 10 years, meeting the needs of the community.

“This research is included in the most recent Traveller Site Needs Assessment which was carried out in 2018 and was tested at public examination as part of the local plan. It concluded that up to 2035, there is no identified need for any new pitches.

“However we have a good relationship with the traveller community in County Durham and continue to monitor this situation going forward.”

Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils both say no households are on the waiting list for pitches at a Traveller and Gypsy site within their local authorities.

However, in Middlesbrough, one vacant pitch has a generator on it and cannot be used. The council said it is there as a back-up to a small sub-station that serves the site, which has experienced overloading issues.

Meanwhile, in Stockton, the charity revealed 17 vacant pitches cannot be used due to needing repairs.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, the Stockton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said: “There is currently one permanent travellers’ site which has 27 pitches managed by the Council, along with a number of smaller privately owned sites in the Borough. There are a number of pitches at our permanent site, Mount Pleasant Grange, in need of works to upgrade their utility blocks.

"Those works are scheduled to take place in the next few months and once complete the pitches will be re-let.

“The Government requires every council in the country to identify sites that are suitable for the gypsy and traveller community. Capacity across the borough is identified through the council’s adopted Local Plan and land is allocated at Mount Pleasant Grange for planning purposes if there is a future demand for it.”

Horton Housing manages two sites in Hambleton on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, with people applying to its sites often being homeless.

Gudrun Carlisle services director for Horton Housing Association said: "We would be happy to work with the district councils to open more sites if the opportunity presents itself.

"Most of our applicants are homeless (or roadside) when they apply. If there is no availability, they tend to stay roadside, find spare land, or occasionally apply for housing.

"Applicants for our sites are always offered the possibility of a pitch on sites that have availability. Sometimes this is not always suitable due to family or support needs."