Council to unite to solve unauthorised camps issue

Councillors in Leeds have agreed to work together to better tackle anti-social vehicle use and unauthorised Gypsy and traveller camps.

A recent motion put forward by Reform UK councillor Kieran White called for a cross-party strategy and the "strongest possible measures" to protect public land.

At a Leeds City Council meeting on Thursday, the motion was carried with amendments made by Labour and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

It was opposed by Gipton and Harehills councillor and co-deputy leader of the Green Party Mothin Ali, who raised concerns over the impact on minority traveller communities.

White, who represents Temple Newsam, told the meeting unauthorised camps were costly to clean up and had ruined some green spaces.

He said anti-social behaviour and illegal car meet-ups were also affecting people living near parks, adding: "Obviously this is having a big impact on everyone in our communities and across the city."

The motion said the council could learn lessons from councils like Rochdale, where a High Court injunction banned unauthorised traveller camps.

Previously, the council had to apply for a court order every time it wanted to remove one.

Councillor Wayne Dixon told the meeting his family had Romany Gypsy roots and said he had spoken to residents impacted by unauthorised encampments in the city.

Dixon, who leads the SDP on the council, tabled an amendment calling for more work to understand how the travellers' way of life could be preserved.

He said: "That experience has shaped my view that we must not judge an entire community by the actions of a minority."

The motion was also amended by Labour to say the council would work with the travelling community to continue supporting families with school placements and health checks, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Asghar Khan, executive member for housing, said: "We of course fully recognise the issues unauthorised encampments cause and the extent of public feeling they provoke."

White said more "physical deterrents" should be used at the entrance to parks, "including gates, rocks and other appropriate barriers".

Plans have already been approved for bollards and barriers in Roundhay Park to prevent nuisance driving and encampments.

But at a packed public meeting in July, people questioned whether this would be a deterrent to prevent encampments when there were not enough authorised camps in the city to house people.

Leeds GATE, a charity which supports Gypsy and traveller communities, has previously called for more sites to be allocated to caravans.

While the council manages two permanent Gypsy and traveller sites in the city, it does not have a temporary site for those living a traditional nomadic life.

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