Various Issues - Gypsy Travellers site

See response by council on issue + my response to their points. Further comms between us, councillor + others is ongoing and will be posted here as they come in.

Thank you for this information. I feel that it would have been appropriate to make these notices more public and made aware to the residents of Pengam Green, since we have issues of gypsy travellers allowing their animals (horses) to roam our streets or tied up on back lanes, increaes in criminal activty (that MAY be linked), us being witness to the abuse and trouble they regularly cause in the Tesco Store/Petrol station, accidents on Rover Way due to animals crossing (horses they own), fires and littering in land around but not within their site, cold calling on door stops to sell things or to beg - the list goes on. I feel that this behaviour and abuse should also be built into any decisions as to the allowance for more sites that are close to family estates with exsiting problems directly attributable to these individuals and their land. If only to reduce the cost/burden on the council and other authorities who have to manage the mess and fallout from the issues i mention above. These notices are of interest not only to ajoining premises or immediate neighbours, but to the local wider community as this has near equal impact on them as it does to the literal next door neighbours of any proposed or exiting site. It would alos be of interest/beneift to have communication about how these issues (all are not new) are being tackled or are known by the council. This IS a positive and useful way of spending council/resident money in my opinion, and i am sure many others locally would agree. The placing of this information in the locations you mention means only a few people will be made aware of them (council website is not well promoted or used from my experience, nor is it that engaging + posting information near these sites is unlikely to be of use as many locals do not and would not dare stop and hang around near these sites due to the fear and hassle the residents in the sites have previously caused) I do not require any further notification on planning permisisons/applications as i am now vacting this area due to these and other issues. However, i would request you refer to my points above and contact me with the councils views them. Regards -----Original Message----- Sent: Wed, Nov 18, 2009 9:15 am Subject: FW: Problem Report: Various Issues - Gypsy Travellers site

I refer to your query below regarding a Gypsy site at land adjacent to Rhosog Fawr Reen, Wentloog Road. Planning permission was granted on 12th December 2008 for the change of use of part of this land to a Gypsy site by virtue of planning permission ref no 08/1132/E. This permission permits 4 pitches within the site along with other works such as hard surfacing. It would appear that this permission has been implemented. This application was publicised on site by way of two site notices which were positioned at the entrance of the site and further down Wentloog Road. In addition all adjoining neighbours were written to notifying them of the application. However, to the south east of this site, further along Wentloog Road from the roundabout leading to Newlands Road, the local planning authority is investigating land that is being developed into a further Gypsy site. Following an investigation by the Councils planning enforcement service it would appear that a new bridge has been constructed across the reen, and a hard surface have been laid. Planning permission has not been granted for these works or any change of use of the land to a Gypsy site. The developer has been informed that they require planning permission and has been invited to submit a retrospective planning application so that the acceptability of this development can be fully considered by the local planning authority. If you wish to be notified of such an application I would be grateful if you could forward me your postal address. Planning Enforcement Officer Johnathan Darney is currently dealing with this issue. Mr Darney can be contacted on 029 2087 1103 or JDarney@cardiff.gov.uk To date no further planning applications have been received for any other Gypsy sites within this part of the City. Any further planning application received for such development will be publicised by site notices and all adjoining neighbours will be written to. In regards to your query as to the need or plans for any future sites I would advise you to contact the Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Project for further advice. They can be contacted at 114 Clifton Street, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 1LW; 029 2021 4411; admincgtp@btconnect.com This email represents the Council’s response to your complaint from a planning viewpoint. Should you be unhappy with the information provided, there is an opportunity for you to request that the Chief Executive’s nominee looks into the way the complaint has been dealt with administratively. If you decide to follow this route you will need to write to me within one month from the date of this letter to request a review. It would be helpful if you are specific about what element of the complaint is still unresolved. Alternatively, you may contact the Public Services Ombudsman Wales who will look into the Council’s administrative handling of your complaint (details below). The Public Services Ombudsman (Wales), 1 Ffordd yr Hen Gae, Pencoed, CF35 5LJ Telephone Enquiry Line 0845 601 0987 (calls to this number are charged at local call rate) Fax 01656 641199 e-mail ask@ombudsman-wales.org.uk www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk Regards Daryl Jones Planning Officer Development Control (East) Cardiff County Council ------------------------------ Sent: 12 November 2009 13:10 Subject: Re: Problem Report: Various Issues - Gypsy Travellers site Thank you for contacting Connect to Cardiff. I have sent your email over to the Planning deparmtent who will respond in due course. You can contact them directly on 029 20 87 1135. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Aled ---------------------------- Sent: 12 November 2009 12:46:23

Subject: Re: Problem Report: Various Issues - Gypsy Travellers site I am more interested in the long term plans for these sites, any plans for additonal sites of this type nearby and the lack of communication or consulation with local residents over planning/building for such areas. Can you provide me with more info on these points as dont these issues give reason or cause to revoke land, the expansion of sites or creation of new sites. Also, are new sites spotted planned or illegally being installed by gypsy travellers. I am talking in reference to the site in progress/being built on the Wentloog rd (a4239) nearby (off roundabout next to Eurobond Laminates and roundabout that also leads to Newlands Road).

-----Original Message----- Sent: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:23 Subject: Re:Problem Report: Various Issues - Gypsy Travellers site

Thank you for contacting Connect to Cardiff. The setting of fires and harassing of stores is a police matter, if you wish to discuss these issues, I suggest you contact the non emergency police service 101 or if you feel someone is in immediate danger to life or limb contact 999. In regard to Stray Horses if you see any please contact Lucy Hamblett on 02920 788344 and we can work with the travelling community to stop unfortunate events like the one you witnessed. I have forwarded your email on to our officer who works closely with the travelling community, so he is aware of your issues. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Darren Holmes

Contact from council dept dealing with planning permission/travellers stating that all laws and rules/regs had been met and adhered to (the minimum and no more!)

They felt it was all in order and if incidents happen, call the police - totally missing my point on planning sites after the issues from previous sites granted (impact on local community) + the cost of managing the trouble and damage caused (expensive) and finally the communication to a wider area impacted by these sites is not wide enough and is not well promoted or made aware to those interested. All ignored or disregarded