TRAVELLERS who set up illegal camps in the Bradford district will be asked to obey ten tough new rules as part of a fresh strategy designed to tackle the problem.

A new document, signed by the district's police and council chiefs, contains an agreed code of conduct to be handed to occupants of illegal sites which begins: "We expect you to treat the land you have occupied with respect"

The ten types of behaviour deemed "not acceptable" include forcing entry to land, dumping rubbish, leaving human waste in public areas and failing to keep animals under control.

The detailed document, sent out to councillors, also contains a list of "primary land" for protection against unauthorised encampments.

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These include school grounds and school playing fields, especially during term time, recreation grounds and public playing fields, cemeteries, the grounds of places of worship, hospital grounds and doctors' surgery car parks.

Entitled 'The Bradford District Joint Working for the Management of Unauthorised Encampments', it is an agreement signed by the city's police chief Simon Atkin and city hall's director of Environment Steve Hartley.

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Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Housing, Transport and Planning and chair of the Unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller Encampment working group, said: "This document sets out clearly the protocol we and the police work to when dealing with unauthorised traveller encampments.

"The document makes it transparent to everyone what powers we have and how we will use them, and also makes a clear commitment by both the Council and the police as to how we work together now and in the future."

The list of unacceptable behaviour comprises;

1. Forcing entry to land, by causing damage to any fixtures, fittings or landscaping.

2. Causing any other damage to the land itself, or property on it.

3. Driving vehicles along any footpath or other right of way not specifically designed for road vehicles.

4. Parking vehicles or caravans on any road or footpath that causes an obstruction to other people

wanting to pass by.

5. Dumping or tipping rubbish, waste materials or trade waste such as tree cuttings, rubble, etc.

6. Use of the area as a toilet. You must not deposit or leave human waste openly in public areas.

7. Abuse, intimidation or harassment of any person who is lawfully using the area.

8. Excessive noise or other forms of anti-social behaviour.

9. Animals that are not kept under control or that attack persons lawfully on the land, or nearby.

10. Interference with electrical, water or gas supplies.

Details of the agreement emerged as the first illegal travellers' camp of Spring arrived in the district. Three large white caravans and assorted vehicles arrived in the Esholt public car park below the viaduct on Station Road over the weekend.

Baildon councillor Debbie Davies said she welcomed the joint policy.

"But what people in Esholt and elsewhere really want is swift, decisive and effective action on this recurring and expensive problem," she said.

Figures contained within Bradford Council's Local Plan suggest that the Council will need to provide nearly 100 new pitches for members of the gypsy and travelling community across the district by 2030.

According to its current policy, the Council has identified that it needs to provide 74 extra pitches for gypsies and travellers, and 22 pitches for travelling showpeople by 2030.

The numbers, however, were based on an accommodation assessment from 2008, and the authority is currently nearing the end of a new study, commissioned in June last year, designed to give a more accurate picture.

The current policy acknowledges that while the size of the gypsy and traveller population in the Bradford district has increased "the level of authorised provision has not kept pace with this change," resulting in rising unauthorised encampments, 'doubling-up' on sites, forced movements into bricks and mortar housing, and overcrowding within trailers and caravans.

Data in the current policy states just 41 per cent of traveller children on the roadside attended school regularly, compared to 80 per cent of those on designated sites.

Speaking during a public inquiry into the Council's Local Plan, Simon Latimer, from Bradford Council, said any amendments to the policy would make "clear and certain" that the needs of the gypsy and traveller community were met.

"The policy will set in stone plans and site allocations to give much-needed accommodation for travellers," he said.

"In the past, the plans have not been given the right level of weight and importance.

"We are determined to meet the need in full and not rely on other local authorities."

Responding to concerns over where the sites may be situated, Mr Latimer said they would not be pushed towards the Canal Road corridor area of the district, adding the authority was not yet in a position to determine exactly where the pitches would be.

Helen Jones, from Leeds Gate, a Yorkshire-wide members association for the gypsy and traveller community, said: "We have deep concerns that the numbers are so specific, and yet out of date.

"There has been no new provision in Bradford since 2008, and we think there's an outstanding and significant need."