INEQUALITIES facing traveller, gypsy and Roma communities will be discussed by York’s leading councillors next week.

The York Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy 2013 – 2018 has been set up as part of City of York Council’s draft local plan and aims to help them access suitable accommodation, policing, justice and probation, health, education, employment and financial services. It will be considered by the council cabinet.

Evidence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests life expectancy for gypsy and traveller men and women is ten years lower than the national average, while gypsy and traveller mothers are 20 times more likely than the rest of the population to have experienced the death of a child.

Stephen Pittam, a trustee of York Travellers’ Trust, said: “Progress is required both on how council services are delivered to the community and on how the voice of the community can be strengthened and heard more clearly by all statutory agencies in the city.

“The capacity to participate needs to be built within the community and travellers themselves must be empowered to engage with the process of change.” He said working with the voluntary sector would be important.

Council leader James Alexander said public feedback was essential on all aspects of the local plan.