General Chat

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.

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

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 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 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 >|<

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.