With the spotlight on the imminent eviction of residents from Dale Farm, a large, illegal Gypsy and Traveller site in Essex, will councils face even greater community opposition to developing sites in the future?
Examples of good-practice sites may be less headline-grabbing, but there are perhaps lessons to be learned when it comes to building trust and co-operation within communities.
Experts on Gypsy and Traveller issues have praised Fenland Council in March, Cambridgeshire, for developing positive relations with the travelling community and fostering a general acceptance of Gyspies and Travellers by the settled community.
Unlike other councils in the East of England, Fenland has only a small number of sites without planning permission, which is key to avoiding community tensions like those at Dale Farm.
Marta Clayton went to Fenland to find out more.
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