Kent County Council (KCC) has launched a public consultation to update the rules for managing and allocating pitches on its seven council‑run Gypsy and Traveller sites, including the Three Lakes Caravan Site in Sittingbourne. The consultation aims to clarify how pitches are offered and managed to ensure allocation is fair and transparent.
KCC says the review follows changes to the national Planning Policy for Traveller Sites published in December 2024. That update expands the planning definition of ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ to include people who have ceased to travel because of age, health or education needs, meaning councils must consider their accommodation needs in planning and allocation decisions. It does not itself create an automatic right to a council pitch; eligibility will continue to be determined through local allocation criteria and licence agreements.
The council is asking for feedback via the Let’s Talk Kent engagement portal and has published consultation materials online. KCC is also running several in‑person drop‑in events where staff from the GRT Resident Service will be available to answer questions and offer help to people who need support taking part in the consultation.
The review sits alongside a refurbishment programme funded in part by a £3.8 million grant KCC secured in 2023 to improve facilities across its seven sites. Three Lakes in Sittingbourne was identified as a recipient of this funding, which has been used to upgrade utilities and drainage on the site.
The consultation opened on 4 February 2026 and runs until 30 March 2026. KCC will analyse responses and produce a consultation report; the proposals will be presented to the council’s Growth, Environment and Transport committee in May 2026, with a final policy expected to be considered for adoption by summer 2026. The council says it hopes better‑managed sites will help reduce unauthorised encampments by improving conditions on official pitches.
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