General Chat

I applaud the deputy Prime Minister for his insistence that more land is made available to those who wish to roam freely around their native land. Common Land belongs to all the people and not just to those who have chosen to live on its borders.

I would agree so long as the land is left clean and tidy afterwards. Taxes are paid for services rendered and all other laws that apply to the 'static' population are adheard to. Unfortunatly in a large number of cases they are not. Bob

Jim its a tough one, l'm a hypocrite because l really believe they should have standard camps with amenities which they should pay for, schooling for their children etc but nowhere near my house!! Anne

jim sorry to cause trouble but how is this their native land??

Very difficult to be impartial when they're practically on your doorstep. Daisy

Why isn't it their native land? Not all travellers are foriegners ya know!!

I think Jim is referring to true Romanys rather than the new age travellers.

Jim the question that I put was 'is it right for one section of the poulation to have to observe planning laws whilst one section can call on human rights. Where is the human rights of people who have planning applications turned down and how do you equate the human rights of one section to those of another. It had nothing to do with where can they live it is all about the human rights of all of us and that means just that . If the councils have not provided enough sites then take the councils to court but for Gods sake do not decriminate one sectionof the community against another simply by the use of human rights. We all have them and under this Act what is good for one is good for another. It had nothing to do with gipsies or travellers having no where to live but the right to have laws the same for all. This govt brought the act in let them abide by it. Rupert

dont think i should reply to this thread. i might cause a row with my views! lol!

paul, I am not disagreeing with you mate.... just stating a fact.... not all gypsies are romany in fact very few are these days!!

I agree with Anne. There should be designated camp sites around the country with facilities such as running water, showers and wcs, and those who use them should pay to use them. They should also be responsible for ensuring that the sites are left in a proper state, e g liaising with Local Authorities for the collection of rubbish, when they move on. We've had gipsies and 'travellers' camped on our doorstep a few times in Surrey - they always turn up for the Derby at Epsom racecourse, and some of them did lots of damage to our local woodland (which they used for firewood), dumped old machinery in the local river and left litter, including broken glass and tin cans in the grass. Our dog got a deep, painful cut on his foot from a broken bottle that had become embedded in a field after a camp was vacated, and we ended up with a large bill from the vet. I've nothing against the true gipsies or their lifestyle, but there are too many devil-may-care 'travellers' masquerading as gipsies and giving them a bad name. CB >|<

I know a gypsy family-lovely people never make a spot of mess, nicest people you could ever wish to meet.Where i live they are left alone qiute simply because they are such lovely people.A local farmer lets them stay in the corner of his field on the outskirts of a large midlands town. however we also have a real problem with new age travellers who are horrendous people - when last left a local roundabout left a sign saying 'now clear up SUCKERS' There is a vast difference! jess

I actually was thinking of any Travelling person who prefers to live in a Camper or Caravan, whether Romany or other. I personally would love to be able to Drive around this beautiful country of ours and enjoy many of the parts I have yet to see. Unfortunately, there is not only the fuel cost to consider, but also that a B&B will cost up to £50 a night, a campsite, I don't know , maybe £10 a night? But there is so much Common Land, which should belong to ALL the people, where I would not be allowed to pull up and cook a meal and have a good night's sleep.

I agree Jim, but then you know I do. Everyone needs to feel free and have a place in their country. We all need our human rights, it is not a human right to be able to build an addition to ones home. It is a human right to have a home. Or am I wrong again? Deanna

There is a fundamental difference between a single self-contained unit which parks on a common for a few days and leaves it much in the condition they find it; and organised groups who buy up a field, lay hard-standings, put in power and drainage, apply for retrospective planning permission and stay there forever.

Borrow my camper Grampa! set it up anywhere and see how long you last! £10 a night? when did you last camp - £20 more like and thats basic ammenities! Would love to try the local roundbout but cant see anything pleasurable about it! jess

I firmly believe all travellers should have the right to camp in peace on common land. I also have the equally firm belief that the travellers have a duty to leave the common land as they found it.

Bendy try explaining that to a community that does not give a toss about preservation or regard - they would rather spit in your eye believe me. Lin

Hi Grampa Jim Like millions of others I have enjoyed the camping/caravaning round the UK, parking on common land and having a wonderful time. The difference is that we respect the law and leave the common land as we found it. Not as a cess pit of filth and rubbish. This Prescott initiative is a joke. It has been instigated only because of the attention being focused on travellers, mainly Irish, who are buying up tracts of land, and building without planning permission. Local communities are having their way of life destroyed by the antics of these people. What Human Rights do they have? When people seek planning permission to add to their existing homes, surely the majority do so because it is a necessity. How many of us really pay out thousands of pounds for decoration purposes or to impress the neighbours. Very few are “gypsies” in the real sense. They are not Romanies who are a centuries old honourable tribe of travellers. This new breed are new age and economic travellers. Paul mentioned their native land. They are reported in the media to be mainly from Ireland. Have both north/south got wise to them, and they are seeking new pastures to exploit Where do they get the money from to buy land? Most don’t work, pay taxes, they don’t even have taxed vehicles but drive top of the range cars. They don’t get bills for utilities because they tap into the mains supply. Talk about taking the P. Someone who liaises a lot with the gypsy community once told me they were the people with the hidden wealth in the UK. After seeing the inside of some of their caravans with their state of the art luxury I quite believe it. Actually, I might just go and put some wheels on my house and go travelling. If my house isn't here they can't charge me £1700 council tax can they. Now there's a thought. Aileen

I have met lots of Gypsies...some nice, some AWFUL!!! well i suppose that goes with any typoe of person really doesnt it. But the ones round the corner to my mums place are awful!! they steal from the local supermarket, terrorise people in Lakeside, and are often round my mums way stealing cars, tyres, stole my dads bike which was chained up by our front door, these ones are not nice people....but i have met Gypsies who are nice and very interesting to talk to xx