- Traveller sites across England to be improved, and
communities given better access to healthcare and education
- Refurbished sites will help to provide accommodation and
reduce unauthorised sites
- Funding is being awarded to nine local authorities and 16
projects across England
Traveller sites will be improved and people in the community will
be given easier access to healthcare and education, thanks to
DLUHC funding allocated today.
Nine councils across England – including Kent, Lancaster,
Cornwall, Swindon, and Preston – have received a share of
£10million, through DLUHC’s Traveller Site Fund.
The funding is helping to improve transit sites, so that
travellers have authorised places to stay, as well as better
access to facilities and services such as healthcare.
Councils are also using the funding to refurbish existing transit
and permanent sites to help improve living conditions for
residents.
Improvements underway range from rebuilding through to new
infrastructure dependent on need – including stabling for horses,
improved utilities and play areas for children.
Minister for Levelling Up, , said:
We are supporting councils to improve travellers’ life chances
and build cohesion between the settled and traveller
communities.
This funding is just one of the many ways we are improving
opportunities for communities across the country, as part of the
Levelling Up agenda.
Preston’s Leighton Street Traveller Site has been awarded
£337,220 to refurbish and improve the condition of the site,
including the upgrade of electrical equipment giving the
residents greater control over their energy bills and running
costs of the site.
Leader of Preston City Council, Councillor , said:
We are delighted to receive this much-needed funding. It means
residents now have better access to energy on the site, giving
them greater control, flexibility, and money saving options on
their outgoing energy bills.
Investing in sites means councils can also reduce the number of
unauthorised encampments in England. This reduces enforcement
costs for councils and assists both councils and local police in
redirecting travellers from unauthorised sites. Funding also
helps support community cohesion between the settled community
and travellers.
In addition to this fund, councils can already apply for a share
of the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Fund 2021-2026 for
permanent and transit sites, and bricks and mortar accommodation
for travellers.
Further information
More details on the Traveller Site Fund can be found on the
gov.uk website
