ashford, maidstone, tonbridge & malling & tunbridge wells gypsy & traveller accommodation ...

117 Pages·2007·0.72 MB·English

ASHFORD, MAIDSTONE,
TONBRIDGE & MALLING
& TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GYPSY & TRAVELLER
ACCOMMODATION
ASSESSMENT 2005/6

FINAL REPORT
Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
CONTENTS
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................................................................................4
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................4
1.2 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................5
1.3 KEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY.................................................................................................5
1.4 ADEQUACY AND SATISFACTION......................................................................................................6
1.5 TRAVEL PATTERNS AND MOVING PLANS.........................................................................................7
1.6 ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.....................................................................................7
1.7 HARASSMENT / EVICTION..............................................................................................................7
1.8 DISABILITY...................................................................................................................................8
1.9 CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS...........................................................................................................8
1.10 IDEAL ACCOMMODATION...........................................................................................................8
1.11 RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE DATA................................................................................9
2 INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................11
2.1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................11
2.2 AIMS & OBJECTIVES...................................................................................................................11
2.3 DEFINITION OF NEED..................................................................................................................12
2.4 DEFINITION OF GYPSY AND TRAVELLER HOUSEHOLD....................................................................12
2.5 METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................13
2.6 RESPONSE RATE.......................................................................................................................15
2.7 MILLFIELD QUALITY CONTROL.....................................................................................................15
2.8 STUDY OUTPUTS........................................................................................................................15
3 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING ON SITE....................................................................17
3.1 CURRENT ACCOMMODATION.......................................................................................................17
3.2 TRAVEL PATTERNS.....................................................................................................................24
3.3 RECENT ACCOMMODATION.........................................................................................................28
3.4 YOU AND YOUR FAMILY..............................................................................................................31
3.5 ACCESS TO SERVICES AND FACILITIES.........................................................................................32
3.6 HARASSMENT............................................................................................................................35
3.7 WORK.......................................................................................................................................35
3.8 INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT...............................................................................................37
3.9 FUTURE ACCOMMODATION..........................................................................................................38
3.10 SITE ACCOMMODATION..........................................................................................................41
3.11 HOUSING ACCOMMODATION....................................................................................................43
3.12 NEEDS OF CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS.....................................................................................43
3.13 IDEAL SITES...........................................................................................................................44
3.14 SERVICE PROVISION..............................................................................................................47
4 FINDINGS FOR RESPONDENTS LIVING IN PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION.....................48
4.1 CURRENT ACCOMMODATION.......................................................................................................48
4.2 TRAVEL.....................................................................................................................................52
4.3 RECENT ACCOMMODATION.........................................................................................................54
4.4 YOU AND YOUR FAMILY..............................................................................................................56
4.5 ACCESS TO SERVICES AND FACILITIES.........................................................................................57
4.6 HARASSMENT............................................................................................................................58
4.7 WORK.......................................................................................................................................58
4.8 INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT...............................................................................................60
4.9 FUTURE ACCOMMODATION..........................................................................................................60
4.10 SITE ACCOMMODATION..........................................................................................................62
4.11 HOUSING ACCOMMODATION....................................................................................................63
4.12 NEEDS OF CONCEALED HOUSEHOLDS.....................................................................................63
4.13 IDEAL SITES...........................................................................................................................64
4.14 SERVICE PROVISION..............................................................................................................66
5 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION NEEDS MODEL.............................................67
5.1 SUPPLY.....................................................................................................................................67
5.2 NEED........................................................................................................................................69
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6 KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................72
6.1 KEY FINDINGS............................................................................................................................72
6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE DATA..................................................................................74
6.3 NOTES OF GTAA STAKEHOLDERS SEMINAR......................................................................75
7 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................79

APPENDICES

I Questionnaire
II Site and Housed Letters
III Survey Weighting
IV Glossary of Terms
V Summary of Caravan Count
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Aims and Objectives
1.1.1 Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge and Malling
Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council formally commissioned DCA
in May 2005 to carry out a four-district study of the housing needs and aspirations of
Gypsies and Travellers who are housed or living on authorised or unauthorised sites.
The aims of the survey are:
(cid:190) to identify current and projected accommodation needs of Gypsies and
Travellers who reside in the four Boroughs;
(cid:190) to provide evidence of housing and site needs to support an
accommodation strategy for Gypsies and Travellers;
(cid:190) to inform the housing strategy and planning framework for the four District
Councils on the same basis as other sectors of the community.
1.1.2 The methodology developed for the study has evolved over the study period, in line
with developing guidance issued by Government. The report was commissioned
before Guidance was issued in February 2006. This report is consistent with the
latest guidance issued by ODPM in February 2006.
1.1.3 This study was commissioned jointly by the 4 local authorities. Guidance clearly
recommends that Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments be carried out
at a sub regional level in order to achieve:-
(cid:190) a bigger sample and hence more accurate results, and a better understanding of
needs across administrative boundaries;
(cid:190) a better understanding of the travelling patterns, particularly where they cross
administrative boundaries;
(cid:190) a common approach and consistency across the study area;
(cid:190) economies of cost and scale;
(cid:190) reduce the risk of double counting;
(cid:190) opportunities to work together to devise a strategic approach to Gypsy and
Traveller accommodation shortages and enforcement against unauthorised sites.
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.2 Methodology
1.2.1 The aim of the study was to conduct a minimum of 150 interviews with Gypsy and
Traveller households across the study area.
1.2.2 Following a period of extensive community consultation on the survey questionnaire
the first phase of fieldwork for the study took place from Monday 26th September to
Friday 7th October 2005, phase 2 between 31 May and 21 July 2006. 200 face to
face interviews were achieved, 171 on sites and 29 in bricks and mortar
accommodation.
1.2.3 The number of Gypsy and Traveller households living on sites in the study area was
estimated by comparing the July 2005 caravan count for caravans on authorised sites
and the average over the 3 July counts from 2003 – 2005 for unauthorised sites,
against the number of living units per household (as identified in the survey). This led
us to a total of 163 households living on authorised sites and 56 on unauthorised
sites (these were almost all unauthorised developments by gypsies and travellers on
their own land, rather than unauthorised encampments). This was also the basis for
weighting the data within each local authority area.
1.2.4 Table 1-1 compares the estimated number of households to the number of interviews
actually achieved during the fieldwork period.
1.2.5 On this basis the response rate on Authorised sites was 82.2% and 66% on
Unauthorised sites, a very high rate overall even for households living in general
housing, where 65% would be an average and 50% in London.
Table 1-1 Estimated Number Of Households Living On Sites, Compared
To The Number Of Interviews Achieved
Estimated number of Number of interviews

households achieved
Unauthorised Unauthorised
Authorised (UDs and Authorised (UDs and

UEs) UEs)
Nos % Nos % Nos % Nos %
Ashford 36 22.1 7 12.5 36 26.9 7 18.9
Maidstone 89 54.6 19 33.9 62 46.3 19 51.4
Tonbridge and Malling 23 14.1 21 37.5 21 15.7 2 5.4
Tunbridge Wells 15 9.2 9 16.1 15 11.1 9 24.3
Total 163 100.0 56 100.0 134 100.0 37 100.0
1.3 Key Findings from the Survey
1.3.1 Type of Travellers
1.3.2 The survey found that 93.3% of those living on sites and all of those who were
housed were Romany English or English Travellers. Only 14 Irish Traveller
households are implied by the survey findings.
1.3.3 19.6% of site based respondents were living on sites within Ashford, 49.4% in
Maidstone, 10.9% in Tunbridge Wells and 20.1% in Tonbridge and Malling.
1.3.4 Respondents living in bricks and mortar were well spread across the survey area with
14 living in Tonbridge and Malling, 5 in Ashford, 5 in Maidstone and 5 in Tunbridge
Wells.
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.4 Adequacy and Satisfaction
1.4.1 50.7% of households indicated that their site or pitch was adequate for their needs;
85.9% indicated that their accommodation was adequate, a far higher level of
adequacy compared to those living in housed / settled accommodation (55.2%).
1.4.2 Marginally more households living on unauthorised sites were found to be very
satisfied or satisfied with their site compared to those living on authorised sites. As
can be seen in Table 1-2 below, the difference between authorised and unauthorised
sites was fairly marginal.
Table 1-2 Level Of Satisfaction With Site
Question 4 by Question 38
Satisfaction Levels Authorised Sites Unauthorised Sites
Very Satisfied 48.4 41.1
Satisfied 24.5 48.2
Neutral 4.4 0.0
Dissatisfied 11.9 3.6
Very Dissatisfied 10.8 7.1
100.0 100.0
1.4.3 Households living on sites within the study area were found to have a higher level of
access to basic facilities than in our other recent survey experience. All respondents
had access to an external water supply with 54.6% of respondents having sole
access. 84% had sole access to a WC. 92.8% had sole access to kitchen facilities.
1.4.4 Respondents were asked about the health and safety concerns that they had, as
shown in Figure 1-1 below. Fire prevention issues were a significant concern for
respondents living on site (47%), followed by vermin (20.6%). The majority of
responses to the ‘other’ category were concerned about blocked or poor drainage
and awaited repairs. Percentages in Figure 1-1 do not add up to 100% as it was a
multiple choice question, therefore respondents have given multiple responses.
Figure 1-1 Site Health and Safety Concerns

Rubbish
collection, 6.0% Close to road,
Close to pylons,
5.3%
2.1%
Lack of washing
facilities, 8.3%
Other, 77.2%
Far from
doctors, 12.5%
Overcrowding,
Fire prevention,
14.5%
47.5%
Vermin, 20.6%

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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.4.5 14.5% of respondents living on sites had concerns about overcrowding within their
accommodation (7 households). As well as the pressure of family numbers within the
accommodation this could also relate to the space available for living, including the
pressure of new forming households, or to the need for more storage space. Our
data would suggest that concealed households are in fact causing little pressure; we
identified only 11 households currently living on sites with a concealed household,
none of these households identified themselves as being overcrowded. Average
household size was just 2.1 people. The data did not allow us to cross-tabulate this
to the question on overcrowding. In addition we identified 23 households requiring
additional space for work storage.
1.5 Travel Patterns and Moving Plans
1.5.1 The Gypsy and Traveller community in the study area are well settled within the sub
region. 65.6% of households living on sites had lived at their current base for more
than 5 years; 73.7% had not travelled in the last 12 months. “Way of life” was the
most common reason given for travelling. Of those who had lived elsewhere, 76.7%
had previously lived within Kent.
1.5.2 Levels of eviction are also low, 16 households had been evicted in the last 12
months. The majority had left voluntarily.
1.5.3 67% of households living on sites had no plans to move. The majority of those who
did plan to move were doing so because their site was temporary or because they
disliked the area. 6 households would consider moving from a site to bricks and
mortar accommodation.
1.6 Access to Healthcare and Education
1.6.1 40.2% of households living on sites said they had one or more school age children in
school and 8.7% said they had one or more school age children who were not in
school. The data suggested that households living on sites were more likely than
those in permanent housing to have school age children who did not attend school.
1.6.2 18 households on sites reported difficulties with schooling because of their
accommodation / site. Of those, 3 had difficulty getting a place, 13 had disrupted
schooling due to their mobility and 2 were afraid to send their children due to local
hostility. 3 households had moved in the last 12 months in order to access schools.
1.6.3 90.5% of households living on sites were registered with a doctor, this compared to
96% of those living in permanent housing.
1.7 Harassment / Eviction
1.7.1 20.5% of households currently living on a site had experienced harassment at their
current site, compared to 24.1% in housing. 23.9% of those currently living on a site
had left accommodation as a result of harassment at some time, compared to 20.7%
of those in housing. The level of harassment reported by Gypsy and Traveller
households in the study area was marginally higher than that found in other recent
BME and Gypsy and Traveller housing needs assessments, for example in East
Sussex (DCA 2005) we found 15.8% of respondents had experienced harassment in
their current home.
1.7.2 48.7% of those currently living on a site and 75.9% of those in housing said they
would take harassment into consideration when deciding to move again.
1.7.3 55 households who had travelled in the last 12 months were asked if they had been
evicted. 29.8% (16 cases) had been evicted from a site in the last 12 months. All
apart from one had left the site voluntarily, this family had been moved on by the
police.
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.8 Disability
1.8.1 40 households in permanent accommodation had a member with a disability or long
term illness (18.2%). 15 households living on sites included a member needing
regular medical treatment from a doctor or hospital.
1.8.2 The adaptations required by households in both sites and permanent housing
included ramps outside, handrails, other alterations for access, and bath / shower /
toilet adaptations. 5 households living on sites included a wheelchair user within their
household. There were no wheelchair users within the housed sample.
1.9 Concealed Households
1.9.1 11 households currently living on a site indicated that they had a family member who
would be looking for independent accommodation in the next three years.
1.9.2 Those requiring independent accommodation were asked what type of
accommodation they would be looking for and which area they wanted to move to.
Preference on the type of accommodation was one case wanting a house / bungalow
/ flat and 10 wanting a site.
1.9.3 No households living in permanent housing indicated that they had a family member
who would be looking for independent accommodation in the next three years.
1.10 Ideal Accommodation
1.10.1 Those living on sites were asked what would be their ideal type of site. 73.8% of
respondents said their ideal site is private permanent site, whilst 22.7% would prefer
to live on a public permanent site.
1.10.2 Housed respondents were asked for their ideas of what would make their ideal site.
Of 28 respondents 10 (35.7%) said they would prefer a touring caravan / trailer on a
public permanent site and 10 (35.7%) would prefer a touring caravan / trailer on a
private permanent site.
1.10.3 Both households living on sites and in bricks and mortar accommodation would prefer
to live on smaller sites, over 50% would prefer 10 or fewer pitches on their site.
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.11 Recommendations Based On The Data
1.11.1 Our needs assessment model (see section 5 of this report) identifies a need for 64
additional authorised permanent site pitches across the study area over the next 5
years, in addition to a continued supply of 6 per year from pitch turnover. This will
meet both the backlog of existing need expressed through unauthorised
encampments and developments, and new family formation.
1.11.2 Maidstone has a high level of unauthorised sites along side a strong supply of
authorised sites, and over the past 3 years has made a significant contribution to
increasing the supply of authorised pitches locally (10 per year). There is a need for
future growth in supply to be accommodated in all areas, in line with preferences
expressed through the survey. Work patterns are found to be spread evenly across
the sub area and ideal locations are also spread across the sub area. Cross district
working will be essential to achieve a balance of sites across the sub region to meet
needs over the next 5 years.
1.11.3 There is clear support in our interview sample for more privately owned sites, 73% of
respondents said their ideal site would be a private authorised site. Planners should
take account of the high level of Gypsy and Traveller satisfaction with private sites
and the locational preferences expressed through the survey and based on travel
and working patterns as well as overall preferences for sites in particular districts
when considering applications. Preference is for smaller sites in countryside
locations. This raises significant issues in planning terms.
1.11.4 Although planning applications appear to be fairly successful in line with ODPM
Guidance ‘Planning for Gypsy and Caravan Sites’ February 2006, relations between
the community and planning department could be further developed to support the
Gypsy and Traveller community through the applications process.
1.11.5 The survey found a fairly high level of satisfaction with sites, although some issues
were raised over health and safety suggesting a need to improve the procedure for
regular inspection of sites, covering the provision of basic facilities including water
and sanitation and health and safety. All sites should be effectively managed.
1.11.6 The educational needs of children on sites, as for all other children in Kent, are
currently addressed through the education department. The study found children
living on sites are more likely to be missing school or having problems accessing
education. New sites should be developed with access to local facilities in mind.
Recommendations for improving access to education should be developed by the
Children, Families and Education Directorate of Kent County Council in consultation
with the community.
1.11.7 Employment and training is a priority for the community. Given the high level of self-
employment and its likely connection with irregular income, there may be a need to
provide information and advice to the Gypsy and Traveller community in consultation
with the benefits agency.
1.11.8 Allegations of harassment appear to be significant and needs to be addressed in
partnership with the community and the police. There may be a need to develop
relationships with the police to tackle issues of harassment.
1.11.9 While there is clearly demand for more and improved sites there is also a demand for
permanent housing, see section 3.11 and 4.11 Information and advice on local
housing options needs to be made available to the community.
1.11.10 The demand for transit provision has not been assessed through the survey. Local
management data is being collected on unauthorised developments and movement
through the area. This data should be analysed locally to develop plans for future
transit need.
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Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment – 2005/6
1.11.11 Maidstone has a very high level of unauthorised development along side a strong
supply of authorised sites, and over the past 3 years has made a significant
contribution to increasing the supply of authorised pitches locally (10 per year).
There is a need for future growth in supply to be accommodated in all areas, in line
with preferences expressed through the survey. In terms of planned future moves we
identified 17 households wanting to move, 5 are moving within Ashford and 1 to
Maidstone from Tonbridge and Malling and 11 from Tonbridge and Malling to
locations “elsewhere in the south east”. Work patterns are found to be spread evenly
across the sub area and ideal locations are also spread across the sub area. Cross
district working will be essential to achieve a balance of sites across the sub region to
meet needs over the next 5 years.
1.11.12 New sites should be located in areas considered appropriate for general residential
use, and with access to local services and facilities, within existing communities.
Planning applications should be considered on their merits in the context of land use,
applicable policies, site size and location, and the population density of the
surrounding area.
1.11.13 The accommodation needs and preferences of the travelling community need to be
clearly understood. This report provides an indication of the overall need for site
accommodation across the study area, there will need to be further debate on the
exact location of new sites.
10 DCA