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Neighbours views of official sites for travelling people

Tom Duncan

1 December 1996

The creation of permanent sites for travelling people is usually contentious and often results in strong local opposition. This study finds that:

  • In the three sites studied, all of which appeared to be well run, the problems experienced by site neighbours were far less than they had anticipated.
  • Many neighbours' fears had been based on previous experiences of illegal or unauthorised encampments; they tended to have had greater experience of
    these than of official sites.
  • Most domestic householders had no specific complaints and many acknowledged that their previous opposition had proved groundless.
  • Primary schools in the areas concerned had been able to cope with the arrival of traveller children.
  • Police authorities acknowledged the contribution of the sites to meeting travellers' needs and reported no noticeable increase in crime in the vicinity of sites.
  • well-run official sites have nothing like the disadvantages for neighbours which many anticipate before their creation.