A TRAVELLER has said they have no choice but to invade places like Newent when they are forced to leave their homes with only 28 days notice.

The woman, who does not want to be named, said that around 35 people were devastated after they were told to move off sites in the county.

The 60-year-ol,d who has been a traveller all her life, said: "Two sites have just been closed, one in Staverton and one in Moreton Valence. This affected about 35 people – some of them had been living there for about 30 years.

"They were given just 28 days to get off the land and find somewhere else.

"It is absolutely gutting, our children's education is suffering and there are a lot of elderly people on those sites who need to be near their doctors."

The woman said that travellers have to start unauthorised building on sites such as Southend Lane where travellers moved in over the May Bank Holiday weekend because there is nowhere else for them to go.

She said: "When something happens like the situation in Newent it is usually because we have had to find ourselves a site because we get moved from other sites.

"We are all Gloucester people and we have lived here all our lives, it is unfair.

"We have no protection if we are told to go. We have approached the council for sites but nothing has been found. They get 100 per cent government funding to meet the number of sites but nothing has been done.

"We don't get any input into where we want to live which isn't fair, If I had a council house I would have a choice.

"We just want to be respected for the way we live and for our children. We know the way forward is education and we know it is time to put down roots because times are changing and we have to adapt."

Gloucestershire County Council owns four permanent sites for travellers, which accommodate 85 people.

In 2007 the government commissioned a Gypsy Traveller and Showpeople Accommodation Needs Assessment which found around 25 sites lawfully occupied in the county, taking in more than 200 pitches or plots. But, the GTAA identified a requirement over a five year period for a further 187 pitches across the county, which still need to be met.

Alan Bently, Public Rights of Way Manager said :"We have a Traveller Liaison Officer who works closely with Gypsy and Traveller communities to encourage them to develop suitable sites in appropriate locations.

"He is in close liaison with the local planning departments at the district councils and gets involved in issues associated with camps on public land."