Gypsy and Traveller

Do you or your family need a pitch in the Vale of Glamorgan?

Part 3 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (the Act) requires that a local housing authority should carry out a new assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to its area between February 2015 and February 2016.

The Council aims to:

• Ensure that caravan pitches are allocated fairly, when available. 
• Take account of individuals’ needs and the smooth running of the caravan site in allocating caravan pitches the Council.
• Ensure that the Council’s policy in respect of Equal Opportunities is met, especially as Gypsy and Traveller families are a recognised ethnic group.

We will assess applications according to these criteria:

• Length of time on the waiting list
• Health (physical and mental)
• Exceptional circumstances e.g fleeing domestic violence
• Compatibility with other residents. This is important for the sustainability of the site. Incompatibility can occur for a variety of reasons; religious practices, ethnicity, lifestyle and personality clashes. Because of the close proximity of pitches on a site, there is potential for two families who are incompatible to create problems for themselves, other neighbours or the Council.

Those who are not eligible for a plot are:

• Applicants under the age of 16
• People who owe the Council money, unless you have agreed a payment plan and are sticking to it
• Travellers subject to controls under immigration or asylum regulations

If you are not eligible we will explain why in writing. After the date of the decision you have ten working days to ask for a review.  

All eligible applications will be entered on to the appropriate waiting list. Your application will remain valid for one year, after which we will contact you using the address or telephone number you gave to confirm that you want to stay on the list. If you do not answer, your application will be removed from the list. This is why it is important to keep us up to date with your contact details.

When it is your turn on the waiting list we will contact you about the vacancy. If we don’t hear from you within seven days of making an offer, the pitch will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

If you get a pitch because you provided misleading information or left out important facts you will be liable to eviction. 

If you want to ask for a review contact the Housing Solutions Manager at the Council Offices.

• 01446 700111 [Contact One Vale]