Council to find traveller site in the South Hams

A PLAN to find a Gypsy and traveller site in the South Hams to tackle the problem of the district not having one to redirect unauthorised encampments to is set to be endorsed by councillors.

There has been a significant rise in the number of unauthorised encampments around the district in recent years, but as South Hams does not have an authorised site that travellers can be directed towards, it makes the move on and eviction process complicated.

The council experiences a minimum of 3-4 encampments per year on the Devon County Council’s land at Langage Business Park – the highest used unauthorised encampment location in Devon – South Hams’ executive will be told next Thursday.

A report to the meeting says there is the need for an urgent plan of action from both the Council and Devon County Council to identify land that could be identified as a transit site as South Hams does not have land that could be utilised for this purpose.

Alex Rehaag, the council’s Senior Specialist Placemaking (Affordable Housing) officer, in her report, said: “If the Council had access to a site, this would make the process of dealing with occupants who are parked illegally on land quicker and easier to deal with. Evictions could be dealt with immediately subject to bailiff availability, likely within the week. As the Council does not have access to a site, it can prevent the Council from dealing with issues swiftly.”

Her report added: “It is clear that the Council will need assistance from Devon County Council in seeking a piece of land to be used for this purpose only.” Users of the site would pay a fee.