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19
Jun 2022
Calls for more temporary sites for Travellers in Harrogate district
There have been calls for Travellers to have more temporary sites in the Harrogate district.
Cllr David Goode, who is a resident in Knaresborough and a Liberal Democrat town councillor, said recent groups of Travellers setting up camp had been met with “negative feelings” from locals.
Travellers parked on the old rugby field on Hay-a-Park Lane last week and were served legal notice to leave by Harrogate Borough Council.
Several caravans and cars also parked on the Stray near to Oatlands Drive.
All the Travellers have now moved on.
Cllr Goode said while the council has already set up a permanent designated Travellers site off the Knaresborough bypass, there needed to be more transit sites where groups can stay temporarily.
He added that council officials should start to engage with local Gypsy and Travellers trusts to find out what more can be done.
Cllr Goode said:
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Sharon Calvert, who also lives in Knaresborough and has worked with Travellers in her role in education, shared the view that more temporary sites should be set up.
She said:
'Engagement is number one'
Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life for the communities, said engagement with Gypsy and Travellers in the first instance was important.
In September 2020 the organisation worked with Leeds City Council to create a good practice guide to design Traveller sites as part of its work.
A spokesperson for Leeds GATE told the Stray Ferret that it was important for authorities to make those community links to better understand Gypsy and Traveller people.
They said:
In the Harrogate district, North Yorkshire County Council owns and maintains two designated sites for Travellers.
One is at Bickerton and another is off Thistle Hill in Knaresborough.
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