Travellers 'forced to invade sites'
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.
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controversy: Our May 25 story.
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."
15 Comments
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by The Wise Woman, The Severn
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 3:33PM
“Plenty of free land on the flood plain!!!!!”
by Paul, Cheltenham
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 12:55PM
“Of course travellers do pay bills and taxes.
To suggest otherwise is a distortion of the truth that some people like to do.
How do you think travellers purchase items? Even the worst of you "hater" can't truly believe that that they steal everything?
They pay VAT on things they buy, duty and VAT on their fuel and cigarettes. VAT on their commercial vehicles.
As for the argument that they don't pay council tax so don't contribute to the local community, well only about 25% of the council funds actually come from council tax the rest come from central government/business rates.
So does that mean that businesses should have more of a say in local affairs than council tax payers?
BTW The armed forces and students also don't pay council tax but nobody goes on about them...oh hang on.”
by Nik, Lydney
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 11:06AM
“Hessen, Chelt.
People in their "Red Bricked Castles" have worked, earned and payed taxes for their castles. What gives someone that doesn't contribure to the local comunity - the right to acquire land that isn't _legal_ for developing yet, for them to develop on anyway and then complain when they're told to move along, doesn't seem very democratic to me.
Call me greedy, but you get what you pay for in this world, and since they arn't fairly paying their way... well you know the rest.
The laws on "travelers" need to be updated, or abolished completely. Not like that'd happen anytime soon though!”
by Jean, FOD
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 7:07AM
“None of these 'travellers' seem to want to travel so why don't they settle down on a proper mobile home site. They could then send the children to school, oh yes, and pay bills like the rest of us!”
by Hessen, Chelt.
Monday, June 22 2009, 9:41PM
“So much for fairness and Democracy. Local M.Ps should be tackling this issue positively and 'hands-on'.. after all, it's what they are elected to do- serve all the people, not just those in red-brick castles. These travelling types deserve a place to live like any other, and to be frank, go on them for their actions, God would duly agree and be ashamed of those greedy few who seek to deprive them of any land.”
by Brian Lewis, May Hill
Monday, June 22 2009, 6:58PM
“Dear dan chandler glos
They probably pay as many "bills" as you otherwise they would not get their goods!
Were they to stay in random Gloucestershire "feilds" you would have even more comments to post.
Bri”
by p, g
Monday, June 22 2009, 4:37PM
“I say give them a break , we can go out of our way for eastern europeans , so whats the difference ?gypsy's are good and bad like everybody else in gloucester , its the cheltoniansI couldnt live round , they really do lower the tone”
by Nigel, Cirencester
Monday, June 22 2009, 12:30PM
“Just obey the law and pay taxes like everybody else.As the areas where "travellers" move to instantly see a high rise in crime,I'm surprised they don't move on again.”
by Susan Boyle, The Priory
Monday, June 22 2009, 12:18PM
“"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."
So buy a house then, rather than spending your money buying agricultural land with no planning permission and then building plots and generally annoying everyone else who has to get planning permission and pay stamp duty!!
You earn the very reputation you despise”
by Ian, FoD
Monday, June 22 2009, 11:30AM
“30 years in the same place? Not a lot of travelling there, more like a settled person than a traveller.
Why not bite the bullet and buy a park home. All the fun of trailer living without the travel.”