Bramford: Tempers flare as meeting over Travellers’ site descends into chaos - Suffolk

A PACKED village meeting debating a controversial bid to build a Travellers’ site near Ipswich descended into chaos last night.

Police had to be called after matters boiled over and a heckler refused to leave the meeting, held at Bramford Primary School.

He had been asked to leave by the host – Bramford Parish Council chairman John Hooker – after an argument flared up between the pair over order of speaking.

Police community support officers – to the derision of some of the 300-strong crowd – attempted to remove the gentleman. When he refused to budge police officers were called in, which helped to calm the situation and allowed the meeting to continue. Hundreds of people had squeezed into the school hall to discuss a scheme by Traveller Joe Jones to put three static caravans and one touring caravan on a site off Loraine Way. The application also includes the installation of a boundary wall, hard-standing and an amenity building.

Mr Last, his agent, told the meeting that Mr Jones owned the land and just wanted to build a home for himself and his three children.

He added: “He feels parallels to Dale Farm are unfair and nothing like the situation here. Joe has tried to do it right –he’s making an application for a small site through the right way. He just wants to live with his family and be left alone.”

Among the concerns raised by residents was whether there was the need for another Travellers’ site – given there is one at nearby West Meadow – and whether the proposed plot was suitable for caravans.

Anne Gallagher, who has lived in the area for more than three decades, said the nearby road was “lethal”and added: “I don’t think the beauty of the countryside lends itself to caravans on that site. I don’t object to houses but I do object to caravans.”

Mr Jones, responding to concerns about behaviour, said: “I bring my children up to respect people and I treat people how I want to be treated.”

Difficulties began yesterday evening when residents at the back of the hall had complained that – without a PA system – they could not hear what was being said. They also expressed displeasure at the refusal of a Mid Suffolk District Council case officer to address the meeting.