Plans for Surrey's first short stay traveller site
Surrey could get its first short-stay Traveller site and the public are being asked for their views.
The site, which would be next to the permanent Pendell Camp and would share the current access, would include ten pitches which could be used for a maximum stay of four weeks.
The proposed site, on Merstham Road between Merstham and Bletchingley, would also have a site manager’s office, CCTV and security fencing. The location was chosen following a search of all land owned by Surrey County Council.
The plan is being brought forward in a joint approach between Surrey County Council, the 11 district and borough councils and Surrey Police.
This would be the first transit site in Surrey. Across the country there has been a lack of such sites for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities since the need for local authorities to provide accommodation ended in 1994, according to council documents.
Consultation documents said: “Since then there has been increased homelessness and declining life expectancies in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups, reflecting a range of complex factors and inequalities experienced.”
The issues include hate crimes, education attainment, attendance and exclusion, lack of employment opportunities, over-representation in both the youth justice system and in prisons, and domestic abuse and a lack of safe accommodation.
Surrey Police hopes the site will allow it to better deal with unauthorised encampments, with council documents stating that their frequency can be reduced if transit sites are available.
Between 2018 and 2020, Surrey Police recorded 483 unauthorised encampments across the county on private and council-owned land; so far in 2021, there have been 72 (as of October 27).
The application is being made by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design on behalf of Surrey County Council.
Bletchingley Parish Council will be consulted on the application, and Tandridge District Council has been asked to make a formal recommendation to Surrey County Council by December 8.
The public have until 20 December to comment on the application.