Reports on recent controversial efforts to allocate sites for gypsies and travellers in local plans and development. The First SoS's direction of Brentwood DC to allocate sites was the first use of powers brought in by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, demonstrating government determination to ensure that local authorities do not shirk their travelling community obligations. Temporary stop notices allowing councils to halt further development were introduced to coincide with the Brentwood decision. Examines criticisms of the ODPM's circular updating government policy on planning gypsy and traveller sites. A shortfall of 4 500 sites is the root cause of increased friction between settled and travelling communities, forcing the latter to set up camps in unauthorised locations. The shortage of authorised sites is confirmed from the increasing number of gypsy and traveller cases invoking human rights law coming before the courts.