Shock at Bromham Gypsy protest sign - Bedfordshire

From Bedford Today

A SIGN opposing the planned Bromham Travellers pitches was removed by police on Tuesday over warnings that it could constitute a hate crime.

The offensive sign was reported by members of the public close to the Bromham Road bridge and a passing police officer removed it the same day.

Susan Throssel Hunt, who was outraged by the sign, the content of which is unprintable, said: “I was very shocked that someone would do that and I didn’t want my children to see that and think that it’s ok to say things like that about people.”

She added: “People have opinions and ideas of what Travellers are like, but I don’t agree with that, I’m perfectly happy for there to be a permanent residence for Travellers in Bromham.”

At a meeting of Bromham Parish Council last Thursday around 200 residents attended to show their opposition for the plans to change the use of Bromham Nurseries to a residential caravan site for five Gypsy and Traveller families.

And this week the council claimed that although they themselves have opposed the scheme in a report to Bedford Borough Council’s planning chiefs, they do not condone the use of unofficial signs of the kind that was removed on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: “Parish councillors considered the application on planning grounds and resolved to object on a number of grounds, these were unsuitable access and egress onto A428 bypass, required number of pitches for Bedford, sewage treatment and water contamination, access to amenities, impact on wildlife and biodiversity, visual impact, noise and pollution and impact on schools.”

He added: “In no way does Bromham Parish Council condone the placing of any unofficial signage particularly signs of an offensive nature.”

The application was received by the council in February and planning proposals for the site will be heard by Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee on a date yet to be set.

Members of the public have had the chance to have their say on the proposals as part of a public consultation into the application which closed on April 9. Responses from the consultation will be taken into account as part of the process.
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