J Gerrard

City of York Council approved an action plan introducing a Negotiated Stopping approach intended to direct Traveller groups to designated temporary sites rather than displacing them through eviction notices. The plan includes agreements allowing limited stays with essential facilities and forms part of broader improvements to Traveller support, including £5.25 million for upgrading permanent sites. Officials are identifying potential locations, including church‑owned land, and the measure follows similar adoption in Leeds. Recent unauthorised encampments in Haxby and Westfield underscored the need for a less disruptive system, with council leaders acknowledging progress but noting ongoing challenges.

York is considering a Negotiated Stopping approach that would allow travellers to stay up to two weeks on designated sites equipped with basic facilities. The proposal forms part of a wider action plan that includes major investments in official traveller sites, improved health and education access, and initiatives addressing hate crime and community trust. The council is searching for suitable land, potentially including church-owned sites, and aims to implement a more respectful, less confrontational strategy compared with current enforcement-led practices.