“I would like to know where this other camp has been set up as there is absolutly no sign of this around the area, and as for the water on the lane I think you will find that it a water main gone kaputt as this has ahppened before.Don`t put all the blame on the travellers as there are people in Newent that get away with a lot worse.”

“Brian
Thank you for your response. My comment about not hearing about SLAM before was to understand if they were an established voice of Newent or created as a result of the Travellers invading the site. Sorry if that touched a raw nerve.
Now perhaps my written English was not to the same standard as I might have been able to write had I gone to Newent School.
I quote ".....Since the travellers moved in I've not heard anything negative about them, only SLAM want them moved to Cinderford.".
In simple speak "I've not heard anything negative reported about them (the travellers) .
I then was going on to say that only SLAM seems to want them moved to Cinderford.
I thought that was clear but clearly not and for that I must apologise.
Now you go on to say "you understand that Slam ! is well placed to answer these questions and report to the right people. Perhaps they assume that you are not that person !" Well I am a reader of this webpage, they posted a response and want support for their cause, I would like to know the facts , not just that they turned up on a bank holiday weekend, and completed work that would have taken the council weeks.
Could say I am inquisitive, remember the 45 minutes spiel Tony Blair cited as a reason for action in Iraq?
You then say " Incidentally, you have pitched in a lot of specific questions. What prompted these ? Do, you know more than is being reported here ?", well the answer to that is No but what I was trying to elicit was answers. There had been a suggestion SLAM don't feel the site is right. These are pretty obvious concerns that I, and probably many others, would ask if there are problems (many questions but trying to get answers to specifics).
I hope this explains my comments and in the absence of anything reported to this webpage leads me to believe these travellers are not being problematic to the locals now they are in situ.”

“Hello Vorester and the rest of the World
The Southend Lane Action Movement (Slam !) exists as a result of the invasion.
What do you mean by your statement that you have never heard of SLAM before ? Does it mean that Slam ! does not exist ? and why would YOU have heard anything negative about them ?
I understand that Slam ! is well placed to answer these questions and report to the right people. Perhaps they assume that you are not that person !
Incidentally, you have pitched in a lot of specific questions. What prompted these ? Do, you know more than is being reported here ?”

“Thank you, Slam Member! Newent for a shortened reminder of your point.
I'd never heard of SLAM before, Since the travellers moved in I've not heard anything negative about them, only SLAM want them moved to Cinderford.
Are they speeding down the lane? Dumping rubbish all over the place? Have rats infested the site? is their septic tank overflowing? Has the local health authority issued a Health warning about infectious or contagious diseases? Have they started dismantling cars? Have the Police been called to attend through noise or nuisance?
I've heard nothing reported about this in the Citizen or Forester.
SLAM is well placed to answer this and share with others via this site.
Nobody can condone bad behaviour.
My purpose in my first posting was to try to get some facts about this, ytour previous post merely said the site was felt unsuited. But I didn't know why.
Please let the wider viewers know answers to these questions I have raised.
Thanks.”

“Vorester - perhaps my last message was too long - here's the point again:

Regardless of where the Traveller sites are right now, Newent, Cinderford, Lydney it makes little difference, if the FODDC and County Council don't make adequate provision, this situation will keep on occuring. It won't be long before something similar happens within your comfort zone too. When that time comes I'm sure you'll be appealing for support in just the same way we are. The difference is that we'll be happy to help.

By the way SLAM! has just been tipped off that there's been another illegal occupation of a site in Newent this evening!”

“Why's the Southend Lane site so inappropriate? They've laid hardstanding, almost got sewage, water electricity all laid on in such a short time.
The site at Southend Lane seems much better than the Cinders site so why spend public money doing up the derelict site. These travellers have spent their money, a refreshing change when many more are looking for public funds aka the banks.
What would happen to the site at Southend Lane? Will SLAM expect them to restore the site to a greenfield site?
On the point of the planning process we could say that anyone can build a case against anything. Would SLAM really support Lydney, Coleford or Cinderford? They've been quiet about the extra houses that were scheduled for Lydney.
Hadn't heard of SLAM before, has anyone else? Perhaps they've been a voice of Newent for years.”

“There seem to be a few people missing the point here.

The FODDC and County Councils are entirely responsible for making adequate provision for Gypsy and Traveller families within each county. In Gloucestershire provision is woefully inadequate, which is why situations like the one at Southend Lane occur. If the Travellers at that site had used the planning process the way everybody is supposed to, and incidentally the way their own guidelines suggest they do, then the change of use and proposed development would have recieved proper scrutiny. If the site were then deemed to be appropriate, everyone would have had the democratic right to express their feelings and the Travellers would be safe in the knowledge that they were in the right place. The military way they chose to occupy the site before making their application sends a pretty clear signal that they know the site is unsuitable, otherwise why not abide by the planning laws in the first place? They know that any legal process of eviction will most likely take many years so they can settle in for the medium term and then - here's the real point - ultimately, if after the lengthy appeal processes, they are finally moved on but there's still no proper Council provision, they will simply do the same thing again somewhere else. I'd suggest that regenerating derelict Council owned sites is preferable to allowing your agricultural land to be abused.

Unless the people of Cinderford are prepared to buy up all the land which comes on the market, as other people are now doing around the country, it's only a matter of time before 'our' Newent Travellers, or their friends, become your problem too.

To reiterate then, the FODCC and County Council must provide sites or this will keep happening. Instead of accusing us of NIMBYism I suggest you help us to put pressure the officials responsible for sorting this mess out, or you may find that next time its Your Back Yard!”

“The Cinders site at Crump Meadow referred to is now a derlict area with absolutely no facilities at all and I doubt if it is now desginated as a site for travellers.
Seems like another classic case of 'not in my back yard'.
I am sure they are better off where they are but nobody wants travellers as neigbours.
They own the land they occupy and are unlikely to move for years, if at all.”

“Maybe this is part of Cinderford DE-generation project.
Marvellous ! Even more people in the area who don't abide by the law.
Time to lock up your lawn mowers.
Yes, you can take this comment off, but it is an opinion of many people although no PC.”

“Maybe we need to get a few thousand objectors from Cinderford together and show the idiots in Coleford that there is a BIGGER group in Cinderford who can make even more noise than 150o Newenters!”