Green Spaces Project of
the Month
December
2004 - Cottingley
Springs Gipsy and Traveller Site
Contact Gareth Self, Gypsy Services
Communications Support Officer, on 0113
247 5493 or email gareth.self@leeds.gov.uk
Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers
are among the oldest ethnic communities
in Britain and the most disadvantaged.
Many Gypsies and Travellers lack adequate
accommodation and where sites exist, they
are associated with many problems. This
example of a Gypsy and Traveller site in
Leeds illustrates the difficulties faced
by this community in trying to improve
the environment in which they live.
Residents of Cottingley Springs site have
begun planting gardens and are planning
to improve the appearance of the entrance
to their site and to create an attractive
play area for their children. But lack of
capacity within the community itself and
the supportive voluntary sector, coupled
with reticence on the part of the local
authority and other mainstream agencies,
combines to hinder their progress. BEN
held a focus group with residents of
Cottingley to try to find out how the
Travellers could work together with
others to overcome obstacles and achieve
their goals. In this article and the
linked focus group report, residents and
workers share their views on the ways
forward.
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