Council chiefs have admitted that the lack of legal sites for gypsies and travellers across Lichfield and Burntwood will be a “vulnerability” of the new Local Plan.
Lichfield District Council’s cabinet has backed proposals to formally submit the document to the Planning Inspector.
As well as housebuilding across the district over the next 20 years, the Local Plan also identifies a need for gypsy and traveller provision as a “key issue” facing the district.
Despite a 2016 study by the local authority finding that there were insufficient sites, no further locations have been identified since.
Cllr Iain Eadie, deputy leader of Lichfield District Council, said previous attempts to find suitable places for gypsies and travellers had proven to be fruitless.
“We have made a call for sites to be able to create additional gypsy and traveller locations – that proved unsuccessful as no sites were offered up.
“We will continue to search for sites to serve those communities.
“We have also asked our neighbouring authorities and they find themselves in a broadly similar situation.
“It was a vulnerability [in the previous Local Plan] and it will be a vulnerability here again.”
Cllr Iain Eadie, Lichfield District Council
The lack of provision has been drawn into focus across Lichfield and Burntwood after a number of illegal encampments have seen travellers move onto land at locations such as Burntwood Rugby Club, Stychbrook Park and Saddlers Wood over the past year.
