Lord Avebury says 'hysterical' local opposition is preventing councils from providing sites for gypsies

A senior Liberal Democrat peer has called on councils to perform their duty in identifying land for gypsy and traveller sites.

Lord Avebury said that 鈥榟ysterical鈥� opposition from settled communities has led many councils to drop their site proposals.

But the Department for Communities and Local Government circular 1/2006 obliges local authorities to grant temporary permission in areas where new sites are expected to become available.

He said: 鈥淢ore sites will reduce the inconvenience caused by travellers鈥� unauthorised developments and encampments.鈥�

Politicans playing 鈥榩olitical football鈥� with the Travelling community are to blame, according to Lord Avebury. He pointed to Communities secretary Ruth Kelly鈥檚 decision to reject an planning appeal from a large traveller site at Dale Farm in Basildon:

鈥淭his is a major setback,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Gypsy pitches in the district are full. Basildon will be free to spend huge amounts of public money on evicting these 48 families, but the problems will simply be transferred to the neighbouring authorities.鈥�