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Gypsies and Travellers

Building Bridges - Breaking Down Barriers!

Travelling people have always been a part of our community. Over the recent years many of the traditional stopping places have been lost and this has led to a growing conflict between the settled communities and travelling people seeking a place to stay.

Constantly moving on Gypsy/Traveller families is not an effective way of dealing with unauthorised camping. Our greater awareness of Traveller culture and our aim to embrace diversity within our community requires us to look for more creative solutions.

Durham County Council's aim is to meet the needs of the resident Gypsy and Traveller population in County Durham as well as those of the Gypsies and Travellers passing through the County.

What do we do?

Durham County Council maintains and tries to improve the six Gypsy and Traveller sites that have built across the County at the following locations:

SiteContactNumber of Pitches
Tower Road, Greencroft, StanleyTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873114
Drum Lane, BirtleyTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873114
Adventure Lane, West RaintonTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873117
St. Phillips Park, Coundon GrangeTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873125
Green Lane, Bishop AucklandTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873120
East Howle, FerryhillTravellers Liaison Service on tel: 0191 370 873123
Total113

Durham County Council provides approximately 38% of pitches in the North -East. Although we have six sites they tend to be full for most of the year and we still have to meet the needs of Gypsies and Travellers who have unauthorised stopovers. We have adopted a policy of acceptance towards most unauthorised stopovers and are working towards the development of a strategy for services for Gypsies and Travellers who visit County Durham.

For further information or advice please email the Travellers Liaison Service.

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