Gypsies and Travellers

Our commitment

We assess the accommodation needs of people living in Cheshire East, including Gypsies and Travellers. The Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 protect people from discrimination. This includes Gypsies and Travellers and other ethnic groups with different cultures, languages or values.

Understanding Traveller culture

Read our Gypsies and Travellers Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 105KB) to learn more about culture and lifestyle.

Site licensing and inspections

We licence and inspect all caravan sites in Cheshire East. This includes Gypsy and Traveller sites, which are known as authorised sites.

Unauthorised encampments and developments

An unauthorised encampment is when caravans or other vehicles stay on land without the landowner’s consent. This is a form of trespass.

An unauthorised development is when land owned by Gypsies or Travellers is used for caravans without planning permission.

Encampments are usually on:

• land owned by the council, such as roads, schools or parks
• privately owned land

A transit site is available in the borough. Groups may use this site if they are moved from an unauthorised encampment.

The Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team manages encampments across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington.

You can check the status of current encampments  and you can report an encampment on the same page. 

Before you report:

• If the encampment has already been reported, do not report it again. This helps avoid delays.
• We cannot accept anonymous reports. We need your contact details, but we will not share them outside our team. We only use location details to understand local impact. If you are not comfortable reporting directly, you can ask your local councillor to report it for you.

Read our Guidance of removal of illegal Gypsy/Traveller encampments from land FAQs (PDF, 120KB) to understand council and police powers. 

Report an encampment or get help

The Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team (CWTT) handles Traveller enquiries for Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington.

To report an encampment, call the police on 101 and also report it online using the regional form  on Cheshire West and Chester website

You can also:

Email:  gypsyandtravellersenquiries@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 
Phone: 07525 128505.

To contact Cheshire East Council directly, call 0300 123 5021.
Find support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families.