Senedd report: Local authorities neglecting Gypsy and Traveller sites
A Senedd Committee has criticised the Welsh Government and local authorities, including Flintshire, for failing to improve the provision and maintenance of Gypsy and Traveller sites in Wales, despite previous commitments.
The Local Government and Housing Committee’s follow-up inquiry found that nearly three years after its 2022 report, which highlighted widespread failures, very little to no meaningful progress has been made.
Issues such as overcrowding, poor site conditions, and lack of engagement from local authorities remain widespread.
Evidence gathered from Gypsy and Traveller communities described local authority-run sites in a state of disrepair, with residents reporting pollution, rat infestations, and inadequate facilities.
Unlike council estates, these sites often lack structured maintenance programmes, leading to significant health concerns.
John Griffiths MS, Chair of the Local Government and Housing Committee, said:
“We heard that the persistent neglect of Gypsy and Traveller sites by local authorities in Wales has led to significant physical and mental health issues among their residents, due to widespread disrepair and pollution. Making people live in these conditions is unacceptable.”
The Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to set out how it will hold local authorities accountable for failing to maintain sites and improve conditions.
Flintshire County Council was among the local authorities raising concerns about the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) process, which determines the level of housing need.
The council noted that assessments conducted every three to five years fail to capture the real-time needs of transient families.
A Flintshire County Council representative told the inquiry:
“The GTAA shouldn’t necessarily be the panacea to decision-making from all agencies. It should enable an informed decision and encourage that dialogue between the families, the planning agents, the local authority and the wider community. But, at the moment, I think we’re almost using the GTAA to reinforce a planning decision that doesn’t necessarily put the families at the forefront of the decision-making process.”
Flintshire also monitors locations where Gypsy and Traveller families frequently stop, but securing planning permission and funding for new transit sites has been described as ‘a laborious task’.
Capital Grant funding concerns
Despite the availability of the Gypsy and Traveller Sites Capital Grant, which is intended to fund site development and refurbishment, many local authorities have struggled to access it.
Flintshire County Council described the funding application process as overly complex, with a representative stating:
“Sometimes it can be very arduous and probably puts us off maybe being a little bit more innovative in our applications because there are so many steps to the process.”
The Committee has urged the Welsh Government to simplify the grant process and explore how funding could be used to support private site development, as many Gypsy and Traveller families prefer self-managed accommodation over local authority-run sites.
Prejudice and political inaction
The 2022 report identified a lack of political will and widespread prejudice as major barriers to improving conditions for Gypsy and Traveller communities.
The latest inquiry found that these issues persist, with many residents reporting hostility from both local authorities and the wider public.
A witness from Gypsies and Travellers Wales told the Committee:
“There’s still widely held racism and discrimination towards Gypsies and Travellers. More work needs to be done to ensure the wider community understands our needs.”
To address this, the Committee is calling for:
- Every local authority to appoint a Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer
- The reinstatement of the Gypsy and Traveller Forum to improve engagement and trust
John Griffiths MS said:
“It’s time for both the Welsh Government and local authorities to act on our recommendations with urgency, or members of Gypsy and Traveller communities will continue to be treated like second-class citizens in Wales.”
The Welsh Government is expected to respond to the Committee’s recommendations in the coming months.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
