Permanent Traveller site will not stop unlawful encampments

From Brighton and Hove Conservatives

Here is the text of the letter from Cllr. Geoffrey Theobald published in today’s Argus:

“The Green Administration of Brighton & Hove City Council continues to mislead residents by claiming that their proposed new permanent Traveller site at Horsdean will stop any further unlawful encampments on the city’s precious parks and open spaces.

However, the 16 pitches that the proposed new site would provide have already been allocated to local Traveller families. The Travellers who are occupying sensitive areas such as Carden Park, Greenleas Park, Wild Park and Stanmer Park are mainly from outside the city and have permanent bases elsewhere in Great Britain and Ireland. Therefore, the permanent site will not prevent the continuing trespass on public land.

I continue to maintain that the Council, or anybody else for that matter, should not be building permanent caravan parks on this scale within the new South Downs National Park. It was established in order to protect the beauty and biodiversity of this unique natural habitat and this development, if given the go ahead by the National Park Authority, would set a dangerous precedent. This development could also cause significant disruption to the city’s natural groundwater sources, an issue that has not yet been properly explored by the authorities.

I shall be presenting a petition to the next meeting of the Full Council with the signatures of 1,500 residents who oppose a new permanent Traveller site at Horsdean and I will continue to campaign on their behalf to stop this development from happening.”

Cllr.Geoffrey Theobald OBE

Leader of the Conservative Group