Wiltshire’s Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document consultation begins next week

In just a few days people in Wiltshire will be able to take part in the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document consultation and have their say on the proposals.

The Regulation 19 public consultation begins on Tuesday 20 August and runs until 5pm on Friday 4 October. To enable people to find out more about the Development Plan Document and ask questions, the council is holding five engagement events at different locations around the county and one online engagement event.

The council has a statutory obligation to plan for all members of the community, including Gypsies and Travellers, and the draft Development Plan Document sets out how their housing needs will be provided for over the plan period, from 2024-2038.

Many of the required pitches and plots will be on existing Traveller sites, and once the plan is adopted, they would be subject to further consultation as part of the planning application process to help ensure proposals are brought forward in the right way.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “The council is planning for all members of the community here in Wiltshire and our Business Plan commits to seek to improve health outcomes for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

“Meeting the housing needs of this community is a key part of why the draft Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document, which looks ahead to 2038, has been prepared.

“I’d urge people to take part in the consultation when it begins on Tuesday 20 August and let us know their views.

“Everyone is welcome to attend our engagement events and sign up for our online webinar to find out more.”

Following the public consultation and consideration of all comments received, it is anticipated that the Plan will go to Cabinet and Full Council again in December. It will then be submitted for examination by an independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Government, who will consider all comments received on the Plan. If found sound by the Inspector, it is anticipated the Plan will be adopted later in 2025.

Information about what types of issues people can comment on will be provided on the council’s website.

The list of engagement events is as follows. People can just turn up at any time during the in-person events, which are drop-in sessions – there is no need to book. However, anyone who wishes to attend the online event must sign up beforehand. Anyone with an interest in the Plan can attend any of the in-person events – they do not need to choose the one nearest to them.

To find out more and sign up for the engagement event, people should go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-gypsy-travellers