The report heard from residents who described being treated differently from those in social housing and were told that the council had no obligation to maintain their homes to the same standard. One participant said the site work was built to “the worst possible building standard you can think of.” Across different sites, contributors spoke of a recurring pattern: when maintenance issues were reported, responses were slow, and promises often never materialised.
Three years on, the issue was brought back into sharp focus on 7 May 2025, when Griffiths opened a Senedd debate on the committee’s follow-up inquiry into the provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers.
In his opening speech, Griffiths expressed deep disappointment that despite all 21 original recommendations being accepted by the Welsh government, many remain unimplemented.
“We all have a duty, especially the Welsh government and local authorities, to protect the most disadvantaged in our society and tackle inequalities,” he said.
At the debate, Plaid Cymru politician Siân Gwenllian asked: “How can the government justify the lack of action here? The funding is available, so that isn’t the problem. The progress is far too slow for a community that’s been waiting for decades for adequate accommodation. We can’t accept a situation where Gypsies and Travellers are living in conditions that aren’t just below standard, but also contrary to their human rights.”
She also brought up Wales’ aim to become an anti-racist nation by 2030.
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“The Anti-racist Wales Action Plan published by the Welsh government promised to improve conditions for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers, but, by the middle of 2023, none of the key actions had been achieved – again, totally unacceptable, and difficult to understand, because the funding was available.”
That pledge – and its failure – is exactly what Allison Hulmes finds so galling.
“My family have been in Wales for about 350 years,” she told Big Issue. “I’ve got an unbroken line here – one of my ancestors was one of the first to develop the the Welsh tribes, so we’re among the first Welsh Gypsies.”
Hulmes is a senior lecturer in social work at Swansea University and a co-founding member of the Romani and Traveller Social Work Association. She’s also a fierce advocate for anti-racism and quick to challenge what she sees as hollow political commitments.
Big Issue asked her what she thinks of the 2030 goal.
“You are having a laugh.”
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“We’re not gonna be an anti-racist Wales. I think it’s really important to have aspirations, and it’s really important to think about the values of our nation. And being anti-racist is important to everybody. But it’s kind of how we get there.”
Allison speaks from lived experience and professional expertise. In October 2024, she submitted written evidence to the Senedd as part of the follow-up on the inquiry into the provision of sites for Gypsies and Travellers.
“This action plan was a recognition that we’ve had too many inquiries. We’ve had too many reports. We don’t need any more research,” she says.
“There’s a keyword in the action plan which is ‘action’. Unless we actually see change, it’s hollow, hollow words. There’s no accountability.”
The 2022 report is not the first piece of significant legislation that promised this community change.
“The Housing Act 2014 was one of the first major pieces of Welsh legislation post-devolution,” Hulmes explains. “It marked a real divergence from the approach in England. In England, the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers had to be assessed – but not met. There’s still no statutory duty to meet those needs. Just assess.”
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In Wales, the approach was meant to be different.
“Part three of the act signalled a whole new direction,” she said. “Local authorities now had a statutory responsibility not only to assess need, but to meet it. And not just meet it – they had to actively promote accommodation that supported the cultural needs of Gypsies and Travellers.”
The Housing Act was hailed as a turning point, a promise that things would be different. “People talk about pre- and post-2014,” Hulmes explained. “There was this huge expectation. Legal duties come with obligations – and rights of redress.”
But more than a decade later, the promise still feels unfulfilled.
“The legislation hasn’t resulted in real change,” she said. “As you can see from the 2022 inquiry and the 21 recommendations that followed – nothing has changed.”
For communities who were told they had rights, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. “The 2014 Act was supposed to be a new dawn,” she said. “But it never arrived.”
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Back in the Senedd, Griffiths said he thinks the reason we haven’t seen progress on issues relating to this community is because there hasn’t been enough ‘political will’.
“There are the priorities of the health service and schools, so it’s a very busy strategy, policy and implementation scene. Sometimes groups that are not as vociferous, not as organised, perhaps not as numerous in terms of the numbers in the communities, might not get their share of attention and priority.
“And that’s where my committee has a role to understand this and try and make sure that we do raise these matters up the political radar screen and get necessary action.”
The site at Rover Way lies just two miles from the Senedd. Many politicians drive past it every day. It’s a physical reminder of what’s at stake, not just in terms of infrastructure or planning, but trust.
For Hulmes, the disconnect is personal.
“Listen to the stories that people told the Welsh government about what they were living with. If that doesn’t shame them into holding local authorities to account – then what will?” she asked. “The stories are harrowing. They’ve only got to go and visit them themselves.”
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She sees a country caught between progressive ideals and the reality on the ground.
“We’ve got this brilliant legislative and policy context,” she said. “But it’s basically broken the hearts of the communities in Wales. Because it created a sense of expectation and hope.”
And for now, that hope remains unmet.
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