There has been an increase in Traveller caravans recorded in Oxfordshire, with an English charity calling for more safe stopping places for the communities. 

Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show there were 328 Traveller caravans recorded in West Oxfordshire in January – up from 300 the year before, with 208 recorded in Cherwell in January - up from 185 the year before. 

None of the caravans this year in West Oxfordshire or in Cherwell were unauthorised. 

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Meanwhile in South Oxfordshire, there were 78 Traveller caravans - the same amount as the year before - including six without planning permissions. 

Across England, there were 26,632 caravans counted in January, an increase of seven per cent from the year before.

The department said the increase this year was higher than average. It added this is partly explained by data quality improvements in the most recent count, with more authorities submitting data.

The latest data comes as the Friends, Families and Travellers charity celebrates Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, which runs through June.

In response to the figures, the charity has called for more safe stopping places for the communities.

Of the caravans recorded nationally, 86 per cent were on authorised land and 14 per cent were unauthorised.

The number of unauthorised caravans has risen 13 per cent from January 2023 – the majority of these were on land owned by Travellers.

A spokesperson for Friends, Families and Travellers, which works on behalf of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across the UK, said a national shortage of safe stopping places has caused an increase in Gypsies and Travellers living on roadside camps.

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They said: "Entire families are stranded with nowhere else to go".

"National government must ensure councils have the appropriate funding in place so that Gypsy and Traveller families can access secure living conditions through the creation of more safe stopping places.

"Everyone deserves a safe place to rest."

The charity's general election campaign has asked parties to introduce stronger legislation encouraging councils to create adequate provision for Travellers.

It said Gypsy and Traveller sites are often built on dangerous roads, and close to tips and sewage works

Active since 1994, the charity is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the nomadic way of life.

The charity said it works to transform systems and institutions to address the root causes of inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.

They said: "We investigate and expose unfair treatment, advocate for equal rights and empower individuals to challenge inequality."