Meeting against Gypsy site in Swansea forced to move venue after hundreds turn up - Glamorgan

From the South Wales Evening Post

CAMPAIGNERS against potential Traveller sites in Swansea were forced to move a public meeting after hundreds of people attended.

The meeting in the Gorseinon Institute was held to update supporters of a protest movement against two sites, one at Heol y Mynydd and the other at Parc Melin Mynach in Gorseinon, becoming potential homes for travelling communities.

Organiser Cherry Hinton said the meeting attracted more than 500 people.

Mrs Hinton has lived in Grovesend since 1998.

She said: “The meeting was designed to give people information and give pointers as to what they can put on forms that have come out.

“So many people turned up that they were streaming out on to the road.

“We had to move to the Brighton Road Club, which very kindly accommodated us.

“There were between 400 and 500 people.

Civilised

“The town clerk put forward points on the two sites.

“It was very civilised.”

Further meetings will be held by Gorseinon and Grovesend town councils next week to draw up their objections to the potential sites for Travellers.

People living in Swansea have until the end of March to give their views on proposals by Swansea Council to create a second Gypsy and Traveller site in the city.

Swansea has only one legal site, which is currently full.

The local authority is looking at providing further accommodation.

A three-month consultation is under way, seeking views on work carried out so far in the search for the most appropriate location for the site.

A spokesman for the local authority said: “We would urge residents to get involved in the consultation currently under way in the city.

“Residents have until the end of March to share their views with us about the work carried out so far in the search for a second gypsy and traveller site in Swansea.”