Local authorities are required to take the lead in assessing the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers alongside those of the settled population. The locally assessed needs of Gypsies & travellers are to be incorporated within local policy frameworks and Councils have to play their part in meeting that need through the planning system by identifying appropriate sites.

Within Runnymede are a large number of authorised Gypsy sites. These are two sites owned by Surrey County Council but managed by the Borough Council, each site comprising 15 pitches. These are Elm Farm, Lyne Crossing Road, Lyne and The Paddocks, Lyne Road, Lyne. There are private sites at Little Almners, Almners Road Lyne (10 pitches), Walnut Tree Farm, Almners Road, Lyne (20 pitches) and New Oak Farm, Hardwick Lane, Chertsey (1 pitch). Each pitch can accommodate two caravans and therefore the 61 pitches can accommodate 122 caravans.

The Council is currently using consultants to assess the local needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community and the results of this study will feed into the planning Local Development Framework.

When Gypsies or Travellers settle on land that does not have planning permission the Council (in consultation with a range of other agencies) has to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate. Some sites are occupied for a short period and can be trouble free, others can be highly damaging to general amenity and to the settled community. The cost of enforcement and repairing damage that may be caused by unauthorised sites is often high and enforcement action can take a long time.

Where Gypsies or Travellers camp on land they do not own without the owner’s permission, they are 'trespassers' and action can be taken by the landowner, the Police or the Council.

For further information, please contact Development.Control@runnymede.gov.uk