TRAVELLERS’ sites in North Yorkshire are set to benefit from a £1.3 million upgrade after a report found accommodation was “substandard” with damp and rotting facilities.

The four sites are at Burn, Carlton, Thirsk and Seamer, near Stokesley, have fallen into disrepair.

Bathroom and kitchen sheds on the four sites have no damp-proof membrane which means that fittings within the sheds were rotting due to condensation.

A report by North Yorkshire County Council said they did not meet current building standards regarding insulation, they fell “far short” of good practice for the design of traveller sites and were “substandard when considered against today’s decent home requirements”.

Horton Housing, the new manager of the sites, said refurbishment would be a short-term solution, so county council officers have recommended the affected sheds be replaced with purpose-built units which are guaranteed for 12 years but are expected to last in excess of 40 years.

A report to the county council executive suggesed the £1.3 million cost of the scheme could be offset by higher rents.

The upgrade would be funded by £550,000 that had already been agreed for a refurbishment scheme plus the borrowing of £800,000.

The report to the council executive states: “The improved facilities would attract higher rents. Discussions have taken place with the relevant district housing benefit offices – the majority of residents are in receipt of housing benefit – and they have indicated they would be willing to support an uplift in rent from the existing £47.50 per week to circa £70 to £75 per week, the latter being in line with current rents for refurbished pitches in the South Yorkshire area.”

The county council’s executive committee will make a decision on the recommendations next Tuesday.