Concerns over alleged hate campaign against Thundersley Travellers - Essex

From the Echo

AN angry resident claims neighbours have started a hate campaign against Travellers living in Thundersley.

Pamphlets have been circulated around the parish asking residents to fight the creation of what could be a new Dale Farm in Janda Field, after a group of five caravans moved onto the green belt site over the August bank holiday weekend.

The Travellers have since submitted plans to create a three-pitch caravan site on the land, in Fane Road, to Castle Point Council.

Concerns have been raised a hate campaign has started against the land owners following fears the site could expand after neighbouring green belt land went up for auction.

Concerned residents in Great Burches Road are already considering moving out of the area if the plans are approved, fearing their property values would plummet.

One 61-year-old woman, from Westcliff, whose daughter lives in the vicinity of the site, said: “It’s like a witch hunt has started. My daughter had a pamphlet shoved through her door asking quite provocatively do you want another Dale Farm here and to attend a council meeting to voice her opposition.

“But it’s not just that, when I go to the local school to drop off my two grandchildren, the Traveller children and parents are just shunned. No one speaks to them, they are just whispered about.

“It is completely disgusting that in the twenty-first century we can have this kind of hatred. They might turn out to be perfectly nice people who just want to keep themselves to themselves like everyone else.”