I recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government concerning the unauthorised traveller site at Hemley Hill to ask what plans he has to bring forward legislation to speed up the eviction of travellers from unauthorised sites. I have now received a reply which I have enclosed below.
I wrote to Crispin Blunt, a former Minister in the Ministry of Justice, regarding discussions that had been taking place between the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government concerning the best way to increase awareness of existing laws and procedures to deal with unauthorised traveller encampments. I have now received a reply from the new Minister with responsibility for this area Damian Green and I have included a copy of his reply below. The link Mr Green refers to in his letter can be viewed by clicking here.
I recently received a letter from Bob Neill, Parliamentary under Secretary of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government, concerning planning policy for Travellers sites which I thought may be of interest to constituents. Therefore, I have enclosed a copy below.
I recently received a letter from Bob Neill concerning Hemley Hill and the ongoing legal proceedings which I thought may be of interest to constituents. Therefore, I have enclosed a copy below.
I recently received correspondence from a constituent concerned about the legal action regarding the traveller site being delayed further, the case is currently due to be heard on 14 March. I have enclosed a letter below that I have written to Bob Neill asking that he does everything he can to resist any moves to delay the judicial process further.
I recently received a reply to my letter of 14 November to Bob Neill concerning Hemley Hill (see my blog post of 14 November) and I have included a copy of his reply below.
I recently received a copy of a letter Wycombe District Council had written to Bob Neill a Minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government concerning Henley Hill. I have now also written to Mr Neill on this issue and have enclosed a copy of my letter below. I will post a copy of any reply I receive.
On 9 December the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles MP, dismissed the travellers’ appeal to allow development of a currently unauthorised travellers’ site at Hemley Hill.
Mr Pickles upheld the Planning Inspectorate’s report, which was submitted to the Secretary of State on 5 October, but extended the compliance period from 6 to 18 months. This means that the travellers will have to leave the site within that time period.
The travellers’ have the right to appeal Mr Pickles’s decision, but would need to make an application to the High Court within the next 6 weeks.
David said:
“I welcome this decision, which will come as a relief to many local residents, and hope that the travellers will now accept the decision and move out quickly from land that they had no right to develop in the first place.
“The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, has made it clear that he is determined to protect the rights of established residents, along with the status of the green belt and AONB”.
The planning Inspectorate has informed me that following the closure of their inquiry, the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles MP, will be making a decision regarding the Hemley Hill appeal. I have written to Mr Pickles to restate the concerns that many constituents have raised about the site.
