More than £1 million of funding has been set aside to help create 30 new pitches in Cornwall for Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and New Travellers.

Supported by Cornwall Council, Carrick Housing, the Arms Length Management Organisation which manages the Council’s homes in the former Carrick District, has been successful in bidding for the cash from the Homes and Communities Agency.

It will now work with local members, town and parish councils and the Gypsy and Traveller communities to identify suitable areas for the creation of sites in the Duchy.

It is hoped that a network of small sites can be developed across Cornwall to meet existing needs and to address unauthorised encampments.

Mark Kaczmarek, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for housing and planning says: “Cornwall Council is committed to ensuring that members of the travelling communities have the same rights, including fair access to education for their children and health services, and responsibilities as every other person.

“We want to find small sites of between 5-10 pitches, probably on council owned land, in consultation with local members and town and parish councils.

“Carrick Housing and the Council will then take forward the most viable which take into account how the sites could link into the existing infrastructure.

“New sites will be properly managed sites which will benefit Gypsies and Travellers and the local settled community alike.

“Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community can work together and we’ve all got something in common in wanting our children to be healthy and educated.”