Newport firms' anger as Travellers allowed to camp on doorstep - South wales

From the South Wales Argus

NEWPORT businesses are livid after the Welsh Government allowed a Gypsy site to be located on their doorstep, an Assembly Member says.

Businesses on Queensway Meadows industrial estate, Newport, told AM Mohammad Asghar that the extra travellers attracted by the site have left the outside of their premises like a tip and have caused security concerns for both staff and clients.

As reported in the Argus, the Travellers initially moved around 12 caravans onto the old Pirelli cables factory site near Telford Street, Lliswerry, in October last year.

But after concerns were raised that their presence might be threatening a £20 million housing development on land nearby, Business Minister Edwina Hart organised for them to be moved to Welsh Government-owned land in Tatton Road, Queensway Meadows, on February 26.

Kath Lewis, marketing and HR manager at IAC, an electrical engineering firm on the estate, said businesses were “disgusted” by the lack of consultation about the move.

Mrs Lewis said: “We are very unhappy we received absolutely no consultation before the move and the department we dealt with at the Assembly after that in trying to remove the travellers was extremely unhelpful, to say the least.

“We have been based down here for two years and we had never seen Travellers here before the site. Now there are more and more caravans illegally parked outside our businesses all the time, the site is just attracting more travellers.”

Mr Asghar, shadow minister for equalities and sport, said: “I have been contacted by the owners of businesses at Queensway Meadows Industrial Estate who are very concerned about an illegal Travellers’ site near the gates.

“I am advised the Welsh Government tolerates such illegal sites as long as they adhere to certain conditions.

“Companies on the estate have complained it is disrupting their business and giving the wrong impression to their customers.

“I believe unauthorised and illegal Travellers’ sites such as this can cause considerable nuisance to local people and businesses, which sets back the equality agenda in Wales and should not be tolerated.”

A Welsh Government spokeswman said in the absence of any official facilities the encampment at Tatton Road would be tolerated until more permanent facilities were provided by the local authority.

Newport council is currently drawing up plans for five temporary and permanent Gypsy sites in Bettws, Lliswerry and Marshfield.