The old planning Circular 1/06 (2006) in the UK defined Gypsies and Travellers as: “Persons of a nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family's or dependents' educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently”. This circular has now been withdrawn, although the definition remains within the new Planning Policy Framework. However the definition is still based on travelling for the purposes of work; this discriminates against women who often do not go out to work, in the traditional ‘travelling to seek work’ sense. Education of children is often compromised by the fact that they have to be on the move with their parents or they risk to be evicted and lose the right to have permanent accommodation. Still many adults are not able to read and write, because of the jeopardy of planning and housing laws in the UK. Localism Act 2011 in combination with an amended and comprehensive National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could have been a ground- breaking piece of legislation, because of its clear support to neighbourhood planning and the community right to build. The act has been introduced to encourage communities to get involved in planning for their areas by creating their own plans and policies to guide new development. However Gypsy and Traveller communities are not able to be classed as locals, even by themselves, because they are at risk to lose all their rights. It also means that employment prospects are denied to the community. Is it that we are to have no Gypsy nurses, or teachers? This is an impossible position to find one’s self; that is to give up the prospect of employment for fear of losing permission for a home.

Spencer, S. (2012) ‘To be a Gypsy and not by a “gypsy”? That is the Question’, 28/02/2012. Available at: www.travellerstimes.org.uk/blog.aspx?c=f1b1c82c- 0f3c-4edf Spencer, S. (2012) ‘Lessons from Canada’ in Travellers Advice Team,Spring 2012. Tracada, E., Spencer, S. & Neary, S. (2014) ‘United Kingdom National Report – Workstream 1’ in the project Wor(l)ds which Exclude (JUST/2011/FRAC/AG/2716) and available at: http://weproject.unice.fr/publication/national-report-united-kingdom Tracada, E., Spencer, S. & Neary, S. (2014) Adjustments to communication devices within law and planning frameworks dealing with Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the UK, International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS), University of Derby – ISBN 9780901437860 and available at: http://issuu.com/university_of_derby/docs/58437_words_which_exclude_finish ed_/7?e=0/10595057 Tracada, E., Spencer, S. & Neary, S. (2014) ‘The Gypsy and Traveller Communities’ Housing Dispute against the Localism Tenet’ in Wor(l)ds which Exclude – The Housing Issue of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers in the language of the acts and the administrative documents in Europe, Fondazione Michelucci Press, Fiesole (FI) and available at: http://weproject.unice.fr/publication/e-book