From Cambridge-News.co.uk
Taxpayers may be hit with a bill for more than £12,000 because Travellers failed to pay for a sewage system.
The debt owed by 28 plot holders at Smithy Fen in Cottenham is expected to be written off by South Cambridgeshire District Council, with just £1,049 of the £13,166 cost recouped so far.
Just £10 was returned last year.
As the News reported, 18,500 gallons of effluent were removed and extensive repairs were carried out at Smithy Fen in January 2008, amid fears the waste was a health hazard.
Many of the problems appeared to have been caused deliberately – including manholes covered with asphalt, stopped up drainage, and sewage contaminated with oil – and a notice served on families to carry out maintenance was ignored.
Cllr Deborah Roberts, an independent who represents Fowlmere and Foxton, claimed Travellers were getting preferential treatment.
She said: “This is quite unacceptable – the council has a duty to get this money back.
“If you owe money to the council and you live in a house they’ll come down on you like a tonne of bricks and what’s good for one should be good for the rest.”
But Cllr Simon Edwards, deputy leader and finance chief, said the council had a legal duty to do the work to prevent a health hazard, and had done as much to retrieve the cash as it would from the settled population.
He confirmed it was likely the debt would be written off soon, and described the situation as “hugely frustrating”, but said efforts would be renewed if the land changed hands.
He said: “Many of the plots haven’t been lived on for more than two years and we’re looking at a debt for each plot of around £300. A bailiff costs £100, so there comes a point where we have to draw a line.
“That point hasn’t arrived yet and it won’t be written off until we’ve done all we can.”
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Travellers to be moved on from Canal Way, Ilminster site - Somerset
From Yeovil Express
TRAVELLERS who arrived in Ilminster at the weekend were due to be moved on yesterday (Tuesday) as the News was going to press.
A number of concerned residents reported a camp which sprung up in the Canal Way area at around 11am on Sunday to the police, town council and district council.
Around 12 caravans, with trucks, Transits, dogs, children and other equipment, were spotted at the Minster Business Park near a popular cycle path.
But as it was classed as a civil trespass matter on private land it was down to Yeovil-based land owners Abbey Manor Group to secure the necessary documentation to force the Travellers to move on, giving them a deadline of 9am on Tuesday by which to leave.
One of the Travellers, calling himself Mr Price, said he was disappointed with the treatment the group by the authorities.
He said: “All we want is a couple of days here so we can get back to the Midlands, but they wouldn’t even give us a couple of days.
“They just want us gone, and they’ve forced us to leave or they said they’ll bring the bailiffs.
“There were seven lots of police cars down here this morning and two riot vans at the gate.”
Ilminster Mayor Cllr Roger Swann was keen to reassure residents that the matter would be resolved quickly.
Speaking to the News on Monday, he said: “I believe the authorities have everything in hand and are securing the necessary official documentation to assist them.
“I think the situation’s well under control.”
TRAVELLERS who arrived in Ilminster at the weekend were due to be moved on yesterday (Tuesday) as the News was going to press.
A number of concerned residents reported a camp which sprung up in the Canal Way area at around 11am on Sunday to the police, town council and district council.
Around 12 caravans, with trucks, Transits, dogs, children and other equipment, were spotted at the Minster Business Park near a popular cycle path.
But as it was classed as a civil trespass matter on private land it was down to Yeovil-based land owners Abbey Manor Group to secure the necessary documentation to force the Travellers to move on, giving them a deadline of 9am on Tuesday by which to leave.
One of the Travellers, calling himself Mr Price, said he was disappointed with the treatment the group by the authorities.
He said: “All we want is a couple of days here so we can get back to the Midlands, but they wouldn’t even give us a couple of days.
“They just want us gone, and they’ve forced us to leave or they said they’ll bring the bailiffs.
“There were seven lots of police cars down here this morning and two riot vans at the gate.”
Ilminster Mayor Cllr Roger Swann was keen to reassure residents that the matter would be resolved quickly.
Speaking to the News on Monday, he said: “I believe the authorities have everything in hand and are securing the necessary official documentation to assist them.
“I think the situation’s well under control.”
Travellers set up camp at Aberdeen site planned for new police base
From the Evening Express
TRAVELLERS were today facing “swift” legal action after stopping on a site in Aberdeen earmarked for a new £10 million base for Grampian Police.
The group – with more than a dozen caravans – were camped next to Great Northern Road in Aberdeen.
Scottish Water, which owns the land at Kittybrewster, said today it would move quickly to have the group shifted.
TRAVELLERS were today facing “swift” legal action after stopping on a site in Aberdeen earmarked for a new £10 million base for Grampian Police.
The group – with more than a dozen caravans – were camped next to Great Northern Road in Aberdeen.
Scottish Water, which owns the land at Kittybrewster, said today it would move quickly to have the group shifted.
Bid to evict Travellers from Haskells Rec, Newtown - Dorset
From the Bournmouth Echo
POOLE: Borough of Poole officers will go to court today seeking an eviction order for the illegal Traveller encampment at Haskells Rec in Newtown.
Jeff Morley, council team manager, said: “If successful, we will be serving this order the same day. The Travellers will then have 24 hours to leave the site.”
POOLE: Borough of Poole officers will go to court today seeking an eviction order for the illegal Traveller encampment at Haskells Rec in Newtown.
Jeff Morley, council team manager, said: “If successful, we will be serving this order the same day. The Travellers will then have 24 hours to leave the site.”
History of Cardiff’s Gypsy and Traveller communities explored in new exhibition
From Wales Online
A new exhibition looking at the history of Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cardiff will open at the Cardiff Story museum on Friday.
“Pots n Pans: A Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Way of Life” has been organised by The Romani Cultural and Arts Company to explore the traditions of Gypsies and Travellers in the city.
There will be photographs, objects and stories about what it was like growing up on the city’s Shirenewton and Rover Way Gypsy sites now and in the past, and details about travellers’ traditions such as cooking and food, and why china always takes pride of place in trailers and modern day wagons.
Pots and jugs made by children aged five to 14-years-old at the Shirenewton Gypsy site’s home club will also go on display at the exhibition, and it is hoped some of the children will come along to see the launch on Friday.
All the artefacts will be displayed in the Cardiff Story’s city showcase exhibition space.
Lillie Bramley, from The Romani and Cultural Arts Company, said: “We’ll be looking at the heritage of Gypsy Travellers. It’s about breaking down the stereotypes and celebrating the Gypsy culture.”
The “Pots n Pans” exhibition will run from Friday until August 28.
From June 16-30 there will be a second exhibition at the Cardiff Story museum by international Romany artist Delaine Le Bas, and both exhibitions coincide with Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.
This will include a national symposium at Cardiff’s City Hall on June 22.
A new exhibition looking at the history of Gypsy and Traveller communities in Cardiff will open at the Cardiff Story museum on Friday.
“Pots n Pans: A Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Way of Life” has been organised by The Romani Cultural and Arts Company to explore the traditions of Gypsies and Travellers in the city.
There will be photographs, objects and stories about what it was like growing up on the city’s Shirenewton and Rover Way Gypsy sites now and in the past, and details about travellers’ traditions such as cooking and food, and why china always takes pride of place in trailers and modern day wagons.
Pots and jugs made by children aged five to 14-years-old at the Shirenewton Gypsy site’s home club will also go on display at the exhibition, and it is hoped some of the children will come along to see the launch on Friday.
All the artefacts will be displayed in the Cardiff Story’s city showcase exhibition space.
Lillie Bramley, from The Romani and Cultural Arts Company, said: “We’ll be looking at the heritage of Gypsy Travellers. It’s about breaking down the stereotypes and celebrating the Gypsy culture.”
The “Pots n Pans” exhibition will run from Friday until August 28.
From June 16-30 there will be a second exhibition at the Cardiff Story museum by international Romany artist Delaine Le Bas, and both exhibitions coincide with Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.
This will include a national symposium at Cardiff’s City Hall on June 22.
Three Derbyshire schools closed due to Travellers on land
From the BBC
Three Derbyshire schools were forced to close for the day after Travellers moved on to their grounds.
Seven caravans were driven through the school gates and on to the playing fields at 19:30 BST on Tuesday.
Parklands, Harrington and Wilsthorpe schools, which share the same land in Long Eaton, decided to close. About 1,200 pupils were affected.
The police gave the Travellers a deadline to leave and they left the premises.
Parklands Nursery and Infants, Harrington Junior and Wilsthorpe Community School, share a main public access road.
'No consideration'
Andrew Rose, 39, deputy head teacher at Wilsthorpe, said: "They drove onto the middle of the school playing fields yesterday evening while the gates were open because events were taking place at the schools.
"When I arrived this morning, I saw a police van and car blocking the main drive."
One Traveller, who gave his name as John, said their decision to stop there had been prompted by frustration at a lack of permanent Traveller sites provided by the county council.
He said: "We're sick of this happening seven days a week. As soon as we leave and go somewhere else, we'll have the same thing again."
Sharon Cully, whose son attends Parklands, said: "I feel so angry towards these Travellers entering on to school fields with no consideration for the teachers, staff and children, it's just very upsetting."
Eight students, who are taking an A-level geography exam, were allowed to sit the test as normal.
see also ITV News - Travellers On School Fields
Longeaton People - Travellers camp on Wilsthorpe, Harrington Parklands playing fields
This Is Derbyshire - Long Eaton schools closed after Travellers park on playing fields
Three Derbyshire schools were forced to close for the day after Travellers moved on to their grounds.
Seven caravans were driven through the school gates and on to the playing fields at 19:30 BST on Tuesday.
Parklands, Harrington and Wilsthorpe schools, which share the same land in Long Eaton, decided to close. About 1,200 pupils were affected.
The police gave the Travellers a deadline to leave and they left the premises.
Parklands Nursery and Infants, Harrington Junior and Wilsthorpe Community School, share a main public access road.
'No consideration'
Andrew Rose, 39, deputy head teacher at Wilsthorpe, said: "They drove onto the middle of the school playing fields yesterday evening while the gates were open because events were taking place at the schools.
"When I arrived this morning, I saw a police van and car blocking the main drive."
One Traveller, who gave his name as John, said their decision to stop there had been prompted by frustration at a lack of permanent Traveller sites provided by the county council.
He said: "We're sick of this happening seven days a week. As soon as we leave and go somewhere else, we'll have the same thing again."
Sharon Cully, whose son attends Parklands, said: "I feel so angry towards these Travellers entering on to school fields with no consideration for the teachers, staff and children, it's just very upsetting."
Eight students, who are taking an A-level geography exam, were allowed to sit the test as normal.
see also ITV News - Travellers On School Fields
Longeaton People - Travellers camp on Wilsthorpe, Harrington Parklands playing fields
This Is Derbyshire - Long Eaton schools closed after Travellers park on playing fields
Gypsy families are given permission to stay at site - Essex
From the Brentwood Gazette
FIVE Traveller families will be able to continue to live in Mountnessing for the next 18 months – although they will have to wait to find out if they will be able to stay permanently.
Bernadette Reilly and her three young children are among the Gypsy families who have been living at the Roman Triangle site in Roman Road for the past nine years.
This week, Brentwood Borough Council gave them permission to stay for another 18 months – but the families will then need to reapply by which time the authority is likely to have finalised its local development plan on where Gypsies can live.
Ms Reilly, who is the chairman of the Brentwood Gypsy Support Group, said the council had received only three letters of objection to her application for permanent planning permission and she was upset by its decision.
"We are very disappointed," she said. "We were hoping for full planning permission but we are not going to appeal it, we'll just run with it and see where it goes when we reapply."
Ms Reilly's temporary permission expired in April and she had hoped that the council would choose to grant her wish for permanent status this time round.
The decision, taken at a Town Hall planning meeting on Wednesday, was reached after a number of councillors, including Tory Will Russell and Labour's Mike Le Surf, questioned why permanent permission had not been granted.
Councillor Keith Parker told the meeting that the council had to wait until it finalised its local development plan, following the launch of the Localism Act.
The new act means the council will have to assess the need for pitches, based on historic demand, provide a five-year supply of land and identify specific areas to enable delivery of sites for at least 15 years.
Targets for traveller pitches in each part of the country will be set by the local authority.
Despite this, the borough council's previous consultation on the location of 15 permanent traveller pitches remains active and the results will be be used to identify any future need.
Cllr Parker said: "This is not detrimental where we are talking about because Roman Triangle is probably one of the sites that is integrated into the area and which will be high on our list.
"The right decision is temporary permission.
"If we give permanent permission for this site, where it might be appropriate, it could set a precedent for the other sites in the borough which might be determined within our local plan."
FIVE Traveller families will be able to continue to live in Mountnessing for the next 18 months – although they will have to wait to find out if they will be able to stay permanently.
Bernadette Reilly and her three young children are among the Gypsy families who have been living at the Roman Triangle site in Roman Road for the past nine years.
This week, Brentwood Borough Council gave them permission to stay for another 18 months – but the families will then need to reapply by which time the authority is likely to have finalised its local development plan on where Gypsies can live.
Ms Reilly, who is the chairman of the Brentwood Gypsy Support Group, said the council had received only three letters of objection to her application for permanent planning permission and she was upset by its decision.
"We are very disappointed," she said. "We were hoping for full planning permission but we are not going to appeal it, we'll just run with it and see where it goes when we reapply."
Ms Reilly's temporary permission expired in April and she had hoped that the council would choose to grant her wish for permanent status this time round.
The decision, taken at a Town Hall planning meeting on Wednesday, was reached after a number of councillors, including Tory Will Russell and Labour's Mike Le Surf, questioned why permanent permission had not been granted.
Councillor Keith Parker told the meeting that the council had to wait until it finalised its local development plan, following the launch of the Localism Act.
The new act means the council will have to assess the need for pitches, based on historic demand, provide a five-year supply of land and identify specific areas to enable delivery of sites for at least 15 years.
Targets for traveller pitches in each part of the country will be set by the local authority.
Despite this, the borough council's previous consultation on the location of 15 permanent traveller pitches remains active and the results will be be used to identify any future need.
Cllr Parker said: "This is not detrimental where we are talking about because Roman Triangle is probably one of the sites that is integrated into the area and which will be high on our list.
"The right decision is temporary permission.
"If we give permanent permission for this site, where it might be appropriate, it could set a precedent for the other sites in the borough which might be determined within our local plan."
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Travellers pitch in Colchester - Essex
From the Essex County Standard
TRAVELLERS have pitched up at the old Severalls Hospital site this afternoon.
Two caravans are currently on the site, off Boxted Road, Colchester, which has been cordoned off by security guards to prevent anymore arriving.
TRAVELLERS have pitched up at the old Severalls Hospital site this afternoon.
Two caravans are currently on the site, off Boxted Road, Colchester, which has been cordoned off by security guards to prevent anymore arriving.
Travellers ordered to quit Tooting Common - London
From wandsworth.gov.uk
A group of Travellers who have set up camp on Tooting Common have been told to leave within the next 24 hours or face prosecution and risk having their vehicles towed away.
The Travellers have been served with notices requiring them to vacate the common by 2.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday). Failure to meet this deadline could render them liable to court action.
Camping overnight on any part of Tooting Common, without prior authorisation from the council, is a criminal offence under parks and open spaces byelaws.
The council also has powers to physically remove any person, and their belongings, including vehicles, if they do not comply with the byelaws.
Environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: "Local people can rest assured that we have acted quickly to remove this group from the common.
"By acting so swiftly we have reduced the likelihood of this camp getting any bigger and also ensured that this group will depart before the common and its facilities suffer any lasting damage."
Residents who witness any incident involving Travellers on council-owned land are being urged to contact the town hall's emergency response team on (020) 8871 6900. This is a 24 hour service. Occupations of other land should be reported immediately to the police.
The council provides an approved Travellers site in Trewint Street, Earlsfield.
A group of Travellers who have set up camp on Tooting Common have been told to leave within the next 24 hours or face prosecution and risk having their vehicles towed away.
The Travellers have been served with notices requiring them to vacate the common by 2.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday). Failure to meet this deadline could render them liable to court action.
Camping overnight on any part of Tooting Common, without prior authorisation from the council, is a criminal offence under parks and open spaces byelaws.
The council also has powers to physically remove any person, and their belongings, including vehicles, if they do not comply with the byelaws.
Environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: "Local people can rest assured that we have acted quickly to remove this group from the common.
"By acting so swiftly we have reduced the likelihood of this camp getting any bigger and also ensured that this group will depart before the common and its facilities suffer any lasting damage."
Residents who witness any incident involving Travellers on council-owned land are being urged to contact the town hall's emergency response team on (020) 8871 6900. This is a 24 hour service. Occupations of other land should be reported immediately to the police.
The council provides an approved Travellers site in Trewint Street, Earlsfield.
Travellers welcome £1.2m plans to expand Twyford site - Berkshire
From Get Reading
Residents of a sTatic travellers site in Twyford are welcoming £1.2 million expansion plans that will give more space to growing families.
Plans to add 0.65 hectares of land to the Twyford Orchards Travellers site in London Road went on display to the public, with a planning application expected in the next couple of months.
Pitch holder Frank Stevens said: “We’ve been here since the site first opened more than 30 years ago.
“The trouble now is some of the families have doubled up here.
“When I first came we had no kids so it was fine to have a small plot.
“It’s good to change with the times and it’ll be nice to have a decent sized plot. At the moment it’s a fire hazard as everything is too close together.”
Mr Stevens lives on his pitch with wife Fiona, 55, as well as his son David, 25, his fiancée Jade and their two-year-old girl Taylor-Lee.
The 58-year-old said: “I’m happy with the plans because my son would get his own pitch.
“The council have shown us all the plans.
“I know that some people are for it and others are against because they don’t want to have to move.”
The site opened in 1977 with 15 pitches accommodating one large mobile home, a tourer, washing facilities and a shed.
Today the site has 16 pitches, but four of the families are now trying to accommodate a new generation.
The plans, that went on display at Twyford Youth Centre on Tuesday, May 15, would increase the size of the pitches to have 10 on the existing site and 10 on neighbouring land, which the council is planning to purchase.
Carol Lovell, borough council senior strategy officer, said: “The site needs to come in line with modern standards to give them the relevant space.
“A pitch is defined by law and there are requirements for the distances between the structures.
“We have found that 80 to 90 per cent of the residents have been content with the proposals.”
Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for Gypsy Roma Traveller liaison, said: “It’s essential to manage the site in the future better than we have in the past.
“With this proposal we can wipe the slate clean.
“This expansion is only to accommodate families already on the site, with extended family receiving a new pitch. We are adamant no more people will move in.
“If we don’t do anything we would have to move families causing overcrowding off the site.
“We don’t want to have to do this and rather than destroy the family unit, the solution is to expand.”
The expansion could cost up to £1.2 million, with £575,000 coming from the Housing and Communities Agency.
Cllr Baker said: “We will try to strip the budget significantly so the cost to our taxpayers would be a lot smaller.
“Our aim is to do the work causing minimum disruption and we are taking a very robust case forward.
“It will be up to the planning committee to make a decision.”
The neighbouring land is owned by a group of trustees and may have to be seized in a compulsory purchase order if a sale cannot be agreed.
Through the planning process local residents will have the opportunity to comment on the plans further.
Residents of a sTatic travellers site in Twyford are welcoming £1.2 million expansion plans that will give more space to growing families.
Plans to add 0.65 hectares of land to the Twyford Orchards Travellers site in London Road went on display to the public, with a planning application expected in the next couple of months.
Pitch holder Frank Stevens said: “We’ve been here since the site first opened more than 30 years ago.
“The trouble now is some of the families have doubled up here.
“When I first came we had no kids so it was fine to have a small plot.
“It’s good to change with the times and it’ll be nice to have a decent sized plot. At the moment it’s a fire hazard as everything is too close together.”
Mr Stevens lives on his pitch with wife Fiona, 55, as well as his son David, 25, his fiancée Jade and their two-year-old girl Taylor-Lee.
The 58-year-old said: “I’m happy with the plans because my son would get his own pitch.
“The council have shown us all the plans.
“I know that some people are for it and others are against because they don’t want to have to move.”
The site opened in 1977 with 15 pitches accommodating one large mobile home, a tourer, washing facilities and a shed.
Today the site has 16 pitches, but four of the families are now trying to accommodate a new generation.
The plans, that went on display at Twyford Youth Centre on Tuesday, May 15, would increase the size of the pitches to have 10 on the existing site and 10 on neighbouring land, which the council is planning to purchase.
Carol Lovell, borough council senior strategy officer, said: “The site needs to come in line with modern standards to give them the relevant space.
“A pitch is defined by law and there are requirements for the distances between the structures.
“We have found that 80 to 90 per cent of the residents have been content with the proposals.”
Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for Gypsy Roma Traveller liaison, said: “It’s essential to manage the site in the future better than we have in the past.
“With this proposal we can wipe the slate clean.
“This expansion is only to accommodate families already on the site, with extended family receiving a new pitch. We are adamant no more people will move in.
“If we don’t do anything we would have to move families causing overcrowding off the site.
“We don’t want to have to do this and rather than destroy the family unit, the solution is to expand.”
The expansion could cost up to £1.2 million, with £575,000 coming from the Housing and Communities Agency.
Cllr Baker said: “We will try to strip the budget significantly so the cost to our taxpayers would be a lot smaller.
“Our aim is to do the work causing minimum disruption and we are taking a very robust case forward.
“It will be up to the planning committee to make a decision.”
The neighbouring land is owned by a group of trustees and may have to be seized in a compulsory purchase order if a sale cannot be agreed.
Through the planning process local residents will have the opportunity to comment on the plans further.
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