Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople consultation

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Issues and Options

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 21 Feb 2018
Closes: 6 Apr 2018 at 17:00.

Ashford Borough Council are committed to meeting the identified needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community within the borough. In order to meet this need, the Council is in the process of developing a Development Plan Document for Gypsies and Travellers.  This document seeks the views of the Gypsy and Traveller communities, residents and stakeholders, on the issues and options for Gypsy and Traveller site selection in Ashford.

The issues and options outlined within this consultation are not a statement of intention by Ashford, instead they are designed to highlight the key themes and suggested options upon which they need your views. Consultation on the issues and options report and consideration of the responses to consultation will assist the Council to analyse the merits and drawbacks of all the practical options available for providing sites for Gypsies, Travellers and travelling showpeople. As part of this issues and options consultation, they are seeking to identify suitable sites to consider for inclusion as Gypsy, Traveller and travelling showpeople sites within the DPD.  Suggestions for the inclusion of specific sites are an important aspect of consultation on this particular Issues and Options report.

The format of the consultation is to provide some background information and then pose a series of questions to help guide responses, and there is the opportunity to raise further issues and options as part of this consultation.

What happens next?

Once a period of consultation on this Issues and Options document has been undertaken, the responses received will be taken into account in the next stage of plan preparation. The next stage is the production of the Draft Submission version of the DPD. As a result of public consultation carried out on the Draft Submission Document, minor changes may be agreed and these are notified to the Secretary of State when the DPD is submitted for approval. If as a result of the representations received, it becomes apparent that significant changes are needed, the Council will make appropriate amendments. A period of consultation on the amendments would then be necessary prior to the document being submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

The DPD will be submitted to the Secretary of State together with the Sustainability Appraisal and a summary of the main issues raised in response to the consultation process. The Council will need to explain how issues raised by objectors have been addressed. Matters raised by the DPD and particularly those to which objections have been made, are then discussed at an Examination in Public, which is a hearing chaired by a Planning Inspector acting on behalf of the Secretary of State.

How to make comments and submit a site for consideration?

Online

The Council would encourage you to submit your comments online through this portal. Submitting your answers to the questions set out within this consultation portal is a simple process, however you will need to be registered before you can do so. The consultation starts with an introduction that sets out why Ashford is undertaking this DPD, with a menu tree on the right linking to the individual chapters/sections of the report. All representations must be received by 17.00PM on the 6th April.

From the Objectives section onwards, there is at least one question at the bottom of each page that is available to answer. The type of question varies and it is up to you which questions you wish to respond to. You can submit your answer to each question by clicking on the “Save these answers” link that you will find at the bottom of each section of the report.

A copy of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Issues and Options report is available to download.

Via post or email

It is also possible to submit hard copy representation and submission forms in the post. These can be sent to:

Planning Policy, Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1PL

Alternatively, you can also send your completed forms via email to planning.policy@ashford.gov.uk

A digital copy of the response forms and site submission forms are available below:

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Representation Form

Appendix 2 – Site submission form and guidance notes

Hard copies of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Issues and Options report are available to view at the following locations:

• Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PL
• Ashford Gateway, Church Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1AS
• Charing Library, Market Place, Charing, Ashford, TN27 0LR
• Tenterden Gateway, 2 Manor Row, Tenterden, TN30 6HP
• Wye Library, 6 Upper Bridge Street, Wye, Ashford, TN25 5AF

Consultation Documents

• Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Issues and Options
• Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Consultation Report
• GTTS Issues and Options Representation Form
• Appendix 1 – Definitions
• Appendix 2 – Site submission form and guidance notes
• Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Consultation FAQs