Gypsies and Travellers are not only disadvantaged by widespread prejudice and discrimination but also because they are small, dispersed minority communities without the numbers to exert any political influence, so their needs are easily dismissed.
London regional government is not comparable to a County structure and most delivery of service is the responsibility of the Boroughs which are quite small administrations. Unlike Counties, boroughs do not have Gypsy and Traveller liaison as a senior role with an overview. So Gypsies and Travellers find it difficult to identify who in the authority, if anyone, has a strategic overview and knowledge of their needs and services for them.
LGTU therefore led in establishing the London-wide London Gypsy and Traveller Forum (LGTF) to share information and examples of good practise, to allow Traveller activists to gain moral support from each other and to advise the London Mayor on London-wide strategy.
The director of LGTU is a member of the London Equality Commission and sits on the Equality standing group for the London Housing Strategy
LGTU also undertakes work on London wide strategy and has published a number of reports and submissions.
We have been responding to the various consultations leading up to the Mayor's Draft Replacement London plan which was finally published in October 2009. With two subsequent alterations on pitch targets in March and September 2010, LGTU has responded to each change in the draft London Plan.
See Campaigning for sites in London
For a summary in pictures and text of our campaign on the London plan click here
For LGTU submissions click here
For London Gypsy Traveller Forum responses click here