Sanctuary stopping places for travellers

TRAVELLING communities are to be offered safe havens for their caravans on church land. The move is a response to a critical nationwide shortage of sites and new legislation designed to give police new powers to move on encampments on unregistered land. A pilot scheme, agreed unanimously by Durham’s Diocesan Synod, is the first of its kind in the country. And it is hoped that “sanctuary stopping places” will be rolled out across the country. The Church of England General Synod passed a resolution in 2019 to challenge prejudice against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities (GRT). This month’s Durham Synod, attended by 200 clergy and lay members, is the first to take this practical step. It heard an impassioned plea by Gypsy spokesman, Bill Welch, about the pressures on travellers, before the unanimous vote to find land on which they can camp. Mr Welch is from Darlington and gypsies are the largest minority group in Durham. “It is a lifeline from God,” said a delighted Mr Welch after the vote. The Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler said: “Our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community is the largest ethnic minority group in County Durham and an important part of what makes our diocese special. “Yet for generations they have been marginalised and discriminated against. With this motion, we are pledging to work with our churches to look at ways in which we have greater contact with the community and also offer safe stopping places where possible.” Durham is on traditional routes to Appleby Horse Fair, where 10,000 travellers from all over Europe descend on the small Pennine town in neighbouring Cumbria. This year’s event is from June 9 to 12, delayed a week to avoid clashing with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The journey to and from the Fair is part of the spiritual experience for the travellers who rely on stopping off points to rest their animals. But the Synod’s vote comes too late to help this year. Durham’s chaplain to GRT, retired doctor Nicky Chater, said: “We are at the early stages of this pilot. “We will be asking churches to look favourably on allowing travellers to park on suitable land like meadows and car parks, which have access from the road, and to talk to local authorities about providing facilities, perhaps toilets and rubbish collection. “There is a long tradition of travellers finding sanctuary on church land and we want to revive that shared history.” She said that there was a legal obligation on local authorities to provide spaces for travellers, but at the latest count there were just 354 official transit pitches in England and Wales, with the 2011 census showing a traveller population of 53,000. “Obviously there is a huge gap between provision and need,” said Rev Chater. She said pressures on travellers were about to worsen with the Police, Courts, Sentencing and Crime Bill nearing its enactment in law. “Part 4 is about making stopping over on land you don’t own a criminal offence with fines up to £2,500, confiscation of caravans and property and even prison sentences,” she said. “All communities have people who break laws, or fail to consider the needs of others, but we don’t categorise a whole population by the acts of a few, except when it comes to gypsies. “We hope this pilot spreads across the country because it can help to relieve the pressure and lessen the fear for a community as important as anyone else.” (578 words) Just last week the House of Lords Public Services Committee urged the Government to include the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in its levelling up programme. The plea came after they heard “shocking” evidence that life expectancy for Gypsy and Traveller people is reported to be 10 to 25 years less than the general population. Baroness Armstrong, chair of the committee, said that since 2015 local planning authorities have been responsible for providing appropriate sites for Gypsies and Travellers. But in 2020 only 8 out of 68 local authorities had identified a five-year supply of specific deliverable areas.” The committee was also concerned that the new Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill would introduce penalties for people who reside, or intent to reside, on an unauthorised encampment. It quoted the Joint Committee on Human Rights report stating “a chronic lack of authorised sites means that many in GRT communities feel that they have no choice but to live on unauthorised encampments. It concluded that to “criminalise unauthorised encampments without providing authorised sites would be contrary to the Government’s obligation under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to facilitate the gypsy way of life.”

Level up travelers, too, say Lords

THE Government has been urged to include the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in its levelling up programme. The plea came from a House of Lords select committee after they heard “shocking” evidence in a series of hearings earlier this year about the health and life prospects of the minority groups. “The most shocking evidence that we heard was that life expectancy for Gypsy and Traveller people is reported to be 10 to 25 years less than the general population. “The significant disparity in outcomes creates an urgency for the Government to put communities as the centre of the levelling up agenda,” wrote Baroness Armstrong, chair of the House of Lords Public Services Committee. This week (May 17) Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top sent letters calling for action to Professor Sir Chris Witty, Chief Medical Officer for England, his deputy Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, who co-leads the office of health improvement and disparities, and separately to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Baroness Armstrong was formerly known as Hilary Jane Armstrong, a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North-West Durham from 1987 to 2010. Baroness Armstrong said very little had been done by the Government to address inequalities exposed in the Race Disparity Audit in 2017 and the Women and Equalities Committee in 2019. “A lack of suitable accommodation is the major issue facing GRT communities. Around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers currently live roadside in England because of a shortage of stopping sites, many of whom struggle to access basic amenities. “Their lack of access is at the root of the health inequalities that affect these communities,” wrote Baroness Armstrong. “We note that Mission Seven of the Government’s Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper aims to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy by 2030. “However, there is no mention of GRT communities in the White Paper…We are concerned that the GRT communities will be side-lined and that their unacceptable health disparities, already exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue.” The Committee heard from witnesses how GRT communities had difficulty in accessing health services, especially registering with GPs. They also heard from Dr Dan Allen, deputy Head of Department, Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care at Manchester Metropolitan University, that: “We have seen a gradual decline in Traveller education services and specialist health services.” He said: “If we can reinvest and re-enable early help preventive services, we will reduce the number of referrals to social services and bring parity.” In the letter to Mr Gove, Baroness Armstrong made a ten-point challenge to the Government demanding specific action by the Government to address the inequalities, to provide more data, to provide more sites, and to work with local government to improve services to GRT communities. In a summary of evidence, the committee said: “Our witnesses told us that a lack of suitable sites was the major issue facing Gypsies and Travellers. “They argued that the provision of better sites would enable better access to public servies such as health and education. “The 2015 planning policy for traveller sites established that local planning authorities are responsible for providing appropriate sites for Gypsies and Travellers, but in 2020 only 8 out of 68 local authorities had identified a five-yar supply of specific deliverable areas.” Gypsy representative Billy Welch, said more sites were not happening and recommended that “It should be made compulsory for local authorities to provide pitches for roughly the number of Gypsies and Travellers in their area, like it is to build houses.” The committee was also concerned that the new Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill would introduce penalties for people who reside, or intent to reside, on an unauthorised encampment. The Joint Committee on Human Rights stated “a chronic lack of authorised sites means that many in GRT communities feel that they have no choice but to live on unauthorised encampments. It concluded that to “criminalise unauthorised encampments without providing authorised sites would be contrary to the Government’s obligation under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to facilitate the gypsy way of life.”

Tories take pasting in rural Cumbria

TYPICALLY, the National media coverage of the local elections was obsessed with Labour gains in traditional Tory seats in London. Elsewhere the narrative was about Labour not making as many inroads as they might, with a mid-term national government facing financial stagnation and crisis of confidence over pandemic parties in Downing Street. Even BBC North-West focussed on an inconsequential Labour performance in Manchester. But here in rural Cumbria the Tories took a real pasting. Voters were electing shadow authorities for the newly formed Cumberland in the North and West of the old administrative county and Westmorland and Furness in the South and East. There had been fears that the new boundaries had been deliberately gerrymandered by the Conservative Government to improve their hold on local councils in the sub-region. If that had been the tactic it couldn’t have misfired more. In Cumberland, Labour took control of the new council – which is set to replace Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland and the county councils next year. In Westmorland & Furness, which replaces Barrow borough, Eden and South Lakeland districts, the Liberal Democrats took total control. Labour came second, largely due to their stronghold in Barrow. In both new counties the Tories lost seats. This is despite five of the six Parliamentary seats in Cumbria being Tory held. Even in the exception, Westmorland and Lonsdale, the popular sitting Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron had a much-reduced majority in 2019, with the Tories coming a close second. So, what happened to the Tories in a rural county they traditionally dominated? In Mr Farron’s South Lakeland citadel, the Liberal Democrats swept the board with 25 out of the 30 seats available. The Conservatives hung on to just three seats, and only just: Matt Brereton kept his seat in High Furness, after a tense recount, with a majority of 19, Ben Cooper of the Conservatives also took Low Furness after another recount that saw him win his seat with a majority of 23. And Helen Irving won another Conservative seat in Ulverston, where Labour councillor Jackie Drake took the party’s only South Lakeland seat and Green councillor Judy Filmore maintained her seat, the only one won by her party in Westmorland & Furness. Greens won two Cumberland seats. Chairwoman of the Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservatives Councillor Pat Bell, who did not win a seat in Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, said candidates had registered much 'frustration' from voters while campaigning, reflecting the 'national mood'. "It's a rural area and they are wondering are we being listened to?" she told The Westmorland Gazette. She said frustration stemmed from the increased cost of living, with fuel bills, petrol and food prices continuing to soar and that the way people were voting in this election was 'their way of registering that frustration'. Lib Dem councillor Peter Thornton, who is currently deputy leader of Cumbria County Council, said: “We knocked on thousands of doors and the message was that people wanted a council that addresses climate change, fixes the roads and footpaths and isn’t far away.” Mr Farron said he believed national issues such as the price of living had had a big impact on the day’s result. “When they brought in the new authority it felt like it was drawn up to prevent us from having a majority,” he said. “And for us to win a majority at all is just astonishing. These are astonishing results and we’ve never ever won before all the council seats in my constituency and now we have. “I think on a national level it shows that voters don’t take kindly to a government without integrity.” Back in Cumberland, Sir Keir Starmer, national Labour leader, celebrated with local Labour representatives in Carlisle’s Station Hotel. Sir Keir told Cumbria Crack: “It’s extremely positive and it’s brilliant. I was here just a week ago and to come back is brilliant. Everyone is so chuffed. It’s good for Cumberland and good for the Labour Party to show what we can do.” Labour won 30 seats on the new authority, which means it has overall control. The Conservatives have seven seats, the Liberal Democrats four seats, independent councillors three and the Green Party two seats. This means Labour have gained 12 seats, the Conservatives have lost 14, the Liberal Democrats gained two, the Green Party gained two and the Independents lost two. Labour’s Barbara Cannon, who was elected to represent the St Michael’s ward in Workington, said: “We worried and strategised about what may happen and we have done better than we expected. “We have a lot of work to do now and quickly. I didn’t think we’d do this well, I thought we’d be talking about alliances. It’s very exciting.” Lisa Brown, who was elected in the Currock ward for Labour and is among those in the running to be the leader of Cumberland Council, said: “It has been a long time coming. You could see when you spoke to people how despondent they were locally and nationally. “People didn’t reflect on what they were going through on an everyday basis (during the pandemic), but this result is for those people across Cumberland that this council can now help.” Although the local party was hopeful of a positive result in Cumberland, it took many by surprise. “It is beyond what we expected,” said Mrs Brown. “But also the Lib Dems have taken seats and Helen (Davison) for the Greens. She is an outstanding and hardworking local councillor. “I don’t buy into this protest vote narrative, this result is rewarding hard work by local Labour candidates, especially in Carlisle.” It is too early to say how the results in the local elections might translate into a general election, according to Mrs Brown. The new Westmorland & Furness authority will have 65 councillors in 33 new wards. The make-up of the authority, which will sit for five years, one as a shadow and four for real is: Liberal Democrats: 36; Labour 15; Conservative Party 11; Green Party 1; Independent: 2. Neil Hudson, the Tory MP for Penrith and the Borders, which overlaps parts of both Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils said: "We, as the Conservative Party, have had a very disappointing set of results in both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness. "The results pose some difficult questions for my Party. Now is the time to regroup and reflect, so we can move forward and regain the trust and support of Cumbrian folk. The two new councils will be shadow authorities for the first year, then run the new areas for four more years, before the next elections in 2027. In total 213 candidates will be standing in 33 new wards for Westmorland and Furness Council. The two main reasons for the local government shake-up are reducing costs and confusion. Currently ratepayers aren’t sure whether it is county or district which collects the bins, repairs the potholes, or keep the streetlights working. It is hoped having one unitary authority will make things simpler. As for costs, the two new Cumbria authorities, will only have one chief executive and one set of officers each, making a total of two sets instead of seven at present. There is likely to be a bloody carve-up of jobs. And then there is the estate, with grand town halls in Penrith, Kendal and Barrow. These are more likely to be used as local offices than be sold or demolished. It is worth pointing out that the new set up is virtually back to the future. It was the Conservative government of Ted Heath back in 1974 which created Cumbria County and its six districts from the old unitary authorities of Cumberland and Westmorland, as well as Lancashire North of the Sands and even bits of the old West Riding of Yorkshire, in Dent and Sedbergh. Going back to that system exactly was deemed a non-starter, and too embarrassing. Now Conservative Government has carved up Cumbria again, although some Cumbria-wide institutions like Police and Fire are likely to survive. How much the public cares was reflected in the turn-out on May 5, which was 38.5%, not much more than half of the number of voters likely to turn out for a general election.

Back to the Future council election candidates confirmed

Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are going head-to-head for control of a new unitary authority covering south and east Cumbria, including a large swathe of the Lake District. They are the only two parties contesting all 65 seats on Westmorland and Furness Council, which stretches from Walney Island in the South-West to Pennines town Alston in the North-East. The two ends are 72 miles apart, and a two-hours’ drive on a good day. The new council, which takes over from April 1, 2023, will provide services to those in the current areas of Barrow borough and Eden and South Lakeland district councils, as well as those provided by Cumbria County Council. The rest of Cumbria will be represented by Cumberland Council - covering the current area of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland. It will have 46 councillors. Elections will be held on Thursday 5 May for five-year term. The two new councils will be shadow authorities for the first year, then run the new areas for four more years, before the next elections in 2027. In total 213 candidates will be standing in 33 new wards for Westmorland and Furness Council. Apart from the Lib Dems and Tories, there are 31 Labour candidates, 30 Greens, 18 Independents and four Trades Union and Socialist Coalition candidates. The latter are standing for wards in Kendal, not the traditional Labour stronghold of Barrow. The shipbuilding town has been Labour run for at least twelve years, although it has a Conservative MP, Simon Fell. He was elected mainly due to fears that Labour nationally was run by Jeremy Corbyn who was seen as anti-nuclear and likely to scrap the submarine programme which keeps the dockyards in work. Current South Lakeland, based on Kendal, is staunchly Liberal Democrat, with Tim Farron the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale. His Conservative opponent, James Airey, came close in the last general election and the Tories are dominant in Eden centred on Penrith, which has had a Tory MP forever. With such a diverse area, it is difficult to predict the result of the council election. But taking all the seats on the current district and county councils would show a split of 59 Lib Dems, 53 Conservatives, 37 Labour and four Green seats. As always, national politics will have an influence, so it may be that Boris Johnson will be the deciding factor on whether Conservatives or Liberal Democrats win out. Either Labour or Greens could hold the balance of power, so there is likely to be some coalition negotiated. The two main reasons for the local government shake-up are reducing costs and confusion. Currently ratepayers aren’t sure whether it is county or district which collects the bins, repairs the potholes or keep the streetlights working. It is hoped having one unitary authority will make things simpler. As for costs, the new authority will only have one chief executive and one set of officers instead of four. There is likely to be a bloody carve-up of jobs. And then there is the estate, with grand town halls in Penrith, Kendal and Barrow. These are more likely to be used as local offices than be sold or demolished. Commentators can’t help pointing out that the new set up is almost back to the future. It was the Conservative government of Ted Heath back in 1974 which created Cumbria County and its six districts from the old unitary authorities of Cumberland and Westmorland, as well as Lancashire North of the Sands and even bits of West Yorkshire, in Dent and Sedbergh. Going back to that system was deemed a non-starter. Now it is a Conservative Government that is carving up Cumbria again, although some Cumbria-wide institutions like Police and Fire are likely to survive. How much the public cares will be reflected in the turn-out on May 5. The result will be declared in Barrow Town Hall at around 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6.