Travellers could face jail under Tory plans

Date published: 16 February 2010

TRAVELLERS illegally camped on private land across Oldham would face jail under the Conservatives.

The party has unveiled a package of measures that it claims would bolster the rights of land owners by cracking down on a small minority of Travellers, who it says, are abusing the planning system.

Proposals include ramping up the offence of trespass to make it a criminal rather than civil matter unless it is linked to an act of criminal damage. That would also mean home owners seeking to evict squatters could bring in the police.

A legal loophole which means Travellers can avoid eviction by applying for retrospective planning permission on camps set up at weekends and bank holidays when officials are not around, would also be closed, according to the Tories.

The party promises to allocate more money from central Government coffers to fund an increase in authorised sites to meet the shortfall the changes would create, although it is not clear how they would pay for the move.

Bob Neill, shadow local government and planning minister, said: “The British public want to see fair play for all, rather than special treatment being given to some.

“Labour’s changes have undermined community cohesion by creating a legitimate sense of injustice in the planning system. Law-abiding citizens understandably have to jump through many hoops to build in rural areas.

“Yet it’s wrong that certain groups have been given a green light to bypass those rules and concrete over the green belt when no-one’s looking.”

According to latest Government records, Oldham has 19 “not tolerated” caravans reported on private land.

When the figures were published late last year, Oldham Council said it was merely a snapshot of a wider problem.

Councillor Mark Alcock said there were no authorised Traveller sites in Oldham.

He added: “We’ve had camps at Haggate, Chadderton, Oldham Edge, Shaw, Mumps and Royton. Not only have these caused considerable disruption to the local communities but the cost of clearing up has run into thousands of pounds.”