Angry residents unite over proposals for Travellers’ homes - Wiltshire

From This Is Wiltshire

DEFIANT villagers are urging councillors to throw out a bid by two Gypsy families who want to build their mobile homes on green fields in Southwick.

Mother-of-eight Theresa Cash wants to move her family into a mobile home, a dayroom and a touring caravan on a plot of land at Poplar Tree Lane off Frome Road.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Barney, 34, who was jailed for a year last month after he falsely tried to obtain money from an 87-year-old man, wants to create a similar site for his wife and three children at Hoopers Pool, also in the village.

Villagers say the plans are unacceptable because of the potential impact on the value of their homes and the surrounding countryside.

They packed a meeting of Southwick Parish Council on Tuesday to vent their anger at the proposals.

Construction worker Dennis Swift said: “We have spent £100,000 doing up our house only to be told that we could be set to lose £175,000 on the market value if this Gypsy site goes ahead. If I had known we wouldn’t have bothered and would probably have sold up.

“They say that it is only for one family, but this is a gateway for many others to come in.”

Andrew Grist, of Bradley Road, said: “It would be a dark day for Southwick if these plans go ahead.