Travellers

	Travellers
	Do Traveller/Gypsy Children Go To School? Do Travellers On Official Sites Pay Rent and Community Charge? Does The Council Have A Policy In Relation To Unauthorised Encampments? How Many Official Traveller Sites Are There In Spelthorne? Who Deals with Traveller/Gypsy Matters In Spelthorne? Who Deals With Unauthorised Encampments On Private Land? Do Traveller/Gypsy Children Go To School? Yes. As with all residents, the parents are responsible to provide for their childrens education. Traveller/Gypsies attend local schools. Surrey County Council provde a Traveller Education Service whose field officers co-ordinate the schooling of Traveller/Gypsy children. Do Travellers On Official Sites Pay Rent and Community Charge? Yes. Travellers/Gypsies who live on permanent sites are part of our community. They have the same rights and responsibilities as all Spelthorne residents. Does The Council Have A Policy In Relation To Unauthorised Encampments? Yes. The Policy regarding the 'management of Unauthorised Encampments' has been effective since 1966 when it was adopted by the Council. It clearly defines the role of the Traveller Liaison Officer and action by the Council. It sets out clearly the Councils responsibility and recognises that Police may take action independently under their own powers. The Borough recognises however the role of Police in preventing a breach of the Peace at the time of eviction and the importance of welfare considerations. The procedure for eviction is non-confontational to the point of eviction. How Many Official Traveller Sites Are There In Spelthorne? Two. Spelthorne Borough Council manage a site of 10 families in Shepperton, on behalf of Surrey County Council. There is a private site in Stanwell Moor, which accommodates some long term familieis in static mobile homes, but also has an additional 8 plots for transit families. Who Deals with Traveller/Gypsy Matters In Spelthorne? Spelthorne has an officer who is responsible for all matters relating to Travellers/Gypsies. He is part of the Environmental Health team and can be contacted on 01784 446436. Who Deals With Unauthorised Encampments On Private Land? Spelthorne Borough Council Policy provides for us to carry out evictions from private land with the Owner's authority, because we recognise that many complaints originate from residents in the immediate surrounds of an encampment. This does not preclude the Police or the land owner from taking independent action.