Almost £100m of central government funding is available for local authorities to provide legal sites for gypsies and travellers.

Former chairman of the Local Government Association task group on gypsies and travellers, Richard Bennett, highlighted the sum, after proposals to provide more gypsy and traveller caravan pitches in the east of England were agreed.

The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has recommended that every local authority in the region should provide a minimum of 15 new pitches by 2011, with more where there is a high level of need. The proposals will be subjected to three months of public consultation, and other regional assemblies are expected to follow suit.

Mr Bennett said with the financial support available, councils would not face a financial burden over site provision and refurbishment.
He added: ‘There is also nothing which says local authorities have to provide all the sites in the area. In the settled community there are a number of housing providers, I don't see why it should be any different for gypsies and travellers.

‘The biggest impediment will be the public reaction, which is hugely unfortunate.