Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

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Swale thanks you for giving us an opportunity to comment on this document. This document from Maidstone portrays how they are preparing to address the accommodation needs of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities in the borough. It sets out the preferred policies and potential sites. Although there are no new sites on the boundary between Swale and Maidstone, in Policy TR4, an existing site near the border of Swale GT(LPR10) The Ash, Yelsted Road, is allowed to intensify by approximately 5 pitches (net gain), subject to planning permission. Swale would request early engagement on this site. Additionally, the total pitch and plot requirements are 529 and 7, respectively, however, only 251 pitches and 2 plots are deliverable. SBC acknowledges the duty to cooperate matters set out in your consultation and that Maidstone will engage with neighbouring authorities to identify whether they are in a position to help accommodate any potential unmet need for Gyspy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. At this time SBC would like to make clear that we do not have a 5-year supply of sites to meet our Gypsy and Traveller need and that it is highly unlikely that we will be able to accommodate any potential unmet arising from Maidstone in the foreseeable future. Moving forward, SBC would look forward to continuous cooperation and early engagement on Gypsy and Traveller and travelling show people matters as they progress.