Big Bang Localism and Gypsies and Travelers

Abstract

The paper explores how the UK planning system has impacted on Gypsies and Travelers and is partly based upon evidence and conclusions made by the Panel Review of Coalition Government Policy on Gypsies and Travellers which was particularly interested in Coalition Government localist policy. There are differing interpretations of what ’localism’ is but one adherent of localism has described the brand as espoused by a section of Conservatives as ’big bang localism’ (Jenkins, 2004). A dogma of radical decentralisation which some would argue has permeated the Coalition Government. As is evidenced in the paper the Coalition’s localist policies could have a profound effect on Gypsy and Traveler site provision and race relations. However, localism is not a new phenomena it is a policy which has been applied to Gypsy and Traveler site provision in the past and has alternated with more centralised measures which could be described as ’statist’.