Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation
The Coalition Government is currently reviewing Nation Policy guidance relating to the delivery of Gypsy and Traveller sites and pitches*. It is seeking to hand control back to local authorities who will be able to set their own targets and determine local need. This was set out in the recent consultation document available from the Communities and Local Government 
website and is a move away from regional targets.
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)
In June 2006 a report was published which looked at the local levels of need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation within the five local authorities of Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield. It was prepared by Opinion Research Services (ORS).
This was followed in October 2007 by a report which looked at potential areas within these five districts which may be suitable for Gypsy and Traveller pitches*. The report was produced by Scott Wilson consultants.
Scott Wilson report
Although the report was not formally published for consultation, the Council received a significant number of comments on the report. These were automatically treated as representations to either the Land Allocations document or the Stevenage and North Hertfordshire Action Plan (SNAP), whichever was appropriate at the time.
The Land Allocations Issues and Options paper included six possible areas of search for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. A summary and analysis of the representations made regarding these areas has been prepared, along with the Council's reponses.
Summary, analysis and Council's response to comments on Gypsy and Traveller accommodation 
Almost 3000 responses were received to the areas of search for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. These are available below.
Responses to consultation questions (not site specific) (1.05mb)
Barkway representations (3.18mb)
Pirton representations (4.25mb)
Sandon representations (2.15mb)
Whitwell, St Paul's Walden representations (1.51mb)
* - a pitch is the space required to accommodate one household and their caravans. A study which was done for the Council and its partners in 2006, found that the average household size for Gypsies across the areas was 3.4 persons. The regional average for the number of caravans per pitch is 1.7. Therefore, on average, a site which included 15 pitches would involve 26 caravans and 51 people. A 15 pitch site is on average approximately 0.3 of a hectare in size.
