Recommendation For Over 20 New Traveller Pitches In Wrexham

Over 20 traveller pitches could be set up in Wrexham if the recommendation is passed by the Council.

The proposals, which are due to go before the Executive Board tomorrow afternoon, recommend that 15 socially rented pitches are found before 2018. Along with identifying land for at least six private pitches over the same period.

Alongside this land would also be sought after to provide a Gypsy and Traveller stopping place as well as upgrading the existing traveller site on Ruthin Road.

A stopping place would help to prevent future unauthorised encampments by enabling the Council to move the encampment to a more appropriate site where their presence has less impact on the amenity of local residents, businesses or landowners and provides the occupants with a site where welfare needs can be addressed.

It is hoped the new facilities will prevent unauthorised encampments from being set up.

Over the last three years there has been a total of 22 unauthorised encampments in the County Borough. From these, three were on Council owned land and 18 were on private land. The
number of caravans for each encampment varied from 1 to 16 caravans, however most unauthorised encampments were smaller with the majority containing 8 or fewer caravans.

In August of last year a group of travellers gained unauthorised access to a field in Alyn Waters Country Park for 11 days. The field, which was also used as a football pitch for a Llay football pitch was left with tyre marks and litter on it.

The travellers left after they were given a notice from Wrexham Council to leave the site within 24 hours. The notice had been granted by Wrexham Magistrates Court.

The proposals have been put forward to meet the requirements of the Housing Act 2004, which requires local authorities to carry out assessments of the housing needs of gypsies and travellers, and to address those needs in their local housing strategies