Violence flares during Bettws Gypsy meeting

THERE were angry scenes at a public meeting in Newport last night as 150 locals gathered to voice their opposition to plans for a travellers' site in their area. Tensions were running high at Bettws Community Centre where local councillor Noel Trigg told locals he would sooner lie in the road than see a Gypsy site created in a field known as Yew Tree Cottage. He said: “It’s not coming here and if I have to lie across the road then I will.” Householders, who met after Newport council created a shortlist of suitable residential and transit sites for gipsies, said: “We will join you, we will join you.” A scuffle broke out and the police were called when a young woman approached the panel, and two local people were assaulted. A woman was later ejected from the meeting. The meeting was called after council officers chose five possible areas that also include land at Pound Hill, Marshfield, two sites at Pye Corner and one at Queensway Meadows, Nash. A panel of five locals including Kevin Whitehead, Leanne Davies and Tracy Collett, told those present 2,000 people had visited a dedicated Facebook site and a further 260 has signed an e-petition since the news emerged. Residents then voiced a number of concerns the main issue being transport access both to and from the site and to Bettws as a whole. One woman said: “It already takes nearly an hour to get out of Bettws and back in again because they keep extending the estate.” Other present wanted to know where the £2 million required to create the site would come from and one man called for a referendum for residents to properly have their say. Opposition is also growing in Nash where locals have formed an action group to oppose the proposals. Nash community councillor Tony Ducroq said local people were “dismayed” at the news three sites in their area were being considered and a public meeting was being planned.