RESIDENTS have less than three weeks left to have their say about where new gipsy spaces should be put.

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) wants to hear from residents about the 10-year targets for spaces and how they should be spread across south east England.

Key consultation questions in Kent include:

  • Four options on spaces for gipsies and travellers give a range of 241 to 320 spaces over 10 years. Which is the best option? The lower end of the range is around 23 per cent of the 1,064 spaces planned for the full region, the upper end is around 30 per cent.
  • Four options for travelling showpeople give a range of between 10 and 30 spaces over 10 years. Which is the best option? This is 3.6 per cent to 11 per cent of the total 276 spaces.

Under the different options for consultation, Kent could get an extra 320, 281 or 241 pitches for gipsies and travellers.

The county could get an extra 30, 23 or 10 spaces for travelling showpeople.

Members of the public have until November 21 to give their views.

SEERA's regional planning committee chairman Councillor Moira Gibson said: "Increasing the number of stopping places for gipsies and travellers across the south east will help reduce the number of unauthorised encampments that can cause tension with the settled community.

“This is why it is important that as many people as possible respond to this consultation and help us identify how pitches should be spread across the south east."

The Assembly will agree how many camping spaces are needed in each area.

Councils will decide whereabouts in their areas the spaces should go.

Full consultation information and a short film on gipsies, travellers and travelling showpeople is available on the SEERA website.