Anger at possible Travellers’ sites - Bedfordshire

From Dunstable Today

Plans to move Gypsies into a dedicated Travellers’ site in Houghton Regis have been met with anger from neighbours in the area.

Central Beds Council said that 130 ‘pitches’ for Gypsies and Travellers must be created, and an area in Bidwell has been sounded out as a potential location.

However, neighbours of the potential Bidwell site are up in arms about the idea.

One resident in nearby Roslyn Way, who did not want to be named, told the Gazette: “This is entirely the wrong place for it. There’s already enough trouble round here, and this is only going to add to it.”

Another said: “Why do they call themselves ‘Travellers’ if they need a permanent place to stay? Put them next to the M1 so they can go away from here. They’re going to bring the value of my house down.”

Another said: “I’m sure a lot of them are nice – but I’m not happy about this.

“Put it this way, I used to be in the police.”

Gazette readers have also taken to Facebook to share their views. One user said: “It would certainly do the housing market no favours and would destroy the value of houses.

“I used to have a family of them living in my road. They destroyed everyone’s property – so no thanks.”

Another user said: “They certainly don’t do themselves any favours, being abusive, swearing and spraying paint at people, I wouldn’t want them living near me.”

A shortlist will be drawn up at the next Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny meeting on February 28.

Councillor Nigel Young said: ““What is absolutely vital to remember is that we have a statutory duty to provide appropriate accommodation to this community, just as we do for other communities.”

The Gazette made efforts to contact the Gypsy Council and the National Gypsy and Traveller Foundation but had received no response at the time of going to press.

Visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for more information.