Mayor bows to calls to cut Gypsy site target
The mayor of London has slashed his proposed target for creating new Gypsy and Traveller pitches by more than half.
In an amendment to the proposed replacement London Plan, Boris Johnson has cut the target for London boroughs to set up new pitches between 2007 and 2017 from 538 to 238 – the figure requested by the boroughs.
The mayor’s office said the ‘minor alteration’ had been made in response to concerns about the way the targets had been set, and ‘serious doubts that they could be achieved’.
Mr Johnson said: ‘I want to make real progress in improving on the capital’s poor record in increasing the provision of sites for the Gypsy and Traveller communities, but there is no point in setting targets that will clearly not be delivered.’
In response to consultation on the replacement London Plan, London boroughs had called for the mayor to set a target of 238 pitches, the lowest number on offer. Gypsy and Traveller bodies supported the maximum option of 807 pitches.
The proposal for 538 pitches was put forward as a compromise, but the mayor’s office said it is ‘clear that the difference of opinion on targets has not been resolved’.
Meanwhile, the Communities and Local Government department has issued guidance on dealing with anti-social behaviour associated with Gypsies and Travellers.
Communities secretary John Denham urged local councils to work more closely with other agencies and use all the powers available to them.
‘Everyone has the right to expect to live in neighbourhoods that are free from anti-social behaviour – whether it’s unruly neighbours, aggressive gangs or mindless vandals,’ he said.
‘While much has been achieved there are still communities where such behaviour causes real misery. Everyone has responsibilities and rights and no one should receive preferential treatment.
‘Local councils and the police have strong powers and tools to crack down on anti-social behaviour – and I expect them to be used to the full.’
The guidance gives information on tools available for tackling anti-social behaviour, such as acceptable behaviour contracts, injunctions, anti-social behaviour orders and community agreements.
It also gives advice on policing, criminal offences, prevention, fly tipping and waste management, noise nuisance and straying livestock.
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Readers' comments (6)
the purple avenger | 24/03/2010 9:58 am
seems a sensible move by Boris. I know pressure groups will be whinging but it makes sense to set a target at an acheivable level.
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Housing Professional | 24/03/2010 11:02 am
Well nothing seems to have changed does it. if we have neglected areas in the past then we should double our efforts to resolve them now rather than hide from the realities. I fear the vicious cycle will continue and we will be talking about the same issues in 10 years time. Well look at overcrowding which the politicians are only just now starting to grasp the nettle but that means another generation being brought up in conditions unfit for the present time. We workers can only deliver if we are given the tools to resolve these issues.
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Ron H | 24/03/2010 1:10 pm
Unachievable? This is just coping out of dealing with an issue because it is unpopular, especially among Boris' friends in the outer boro's.
If we all accepted the purple avenger's position, we would still be living in caves. Progress only comes from trying to achive those things that matter, even if we do not achieve all of our objectives.
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| 24/03/2010 7:56 pm
To Ron H. Have you asked yourself why the issue is "unpopular"? It's to do with their behaviour isn't it?
Just take a look at the "CLG anti-social behaviour guidance" doc beneath the article to see why the locals (who actually pay taxes for the services) don't like 'em. A suitable target for many rate paying voters would be zero. In a Swiss style referendum democracy you could be sure that zero would indeed be the result. It's a damn good job that liberal handwringing housing "professionals" don't make policy. Given the amount of hostility these groups create by their behaviour and (in many cases) their downright criminality, it is a surprise Boris agreed to 238.
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Jim | 25/03/2010 1:41 pm
ILAG, we already know that bigots hate gypsies, no need to provide us with further evidence.
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| 25/03/2010 4:25 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah the issue is "unpopular" because everyone is a bigot, that's right, whatever, nothing to do with their behaviour, keep taking the Liberal Lefty Handwringer pills...
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