Romany Gypsies tell of Newport Traveller site fears - Gwent

From the South Wales Argus

ROMANY Gypsies living on a legal site in Newport have told the Argus they are worried that proposals for a Gypsy and Traveller site next door could spoil their good relationship with the surrounding community.

For five years a Romany Gypsy family has lived on a rural site off Brickyard Lane, in Allt-Yr-Yn.

But a list of suggested Gypsy sites has proposed one in a field next to the settlement, where both Romany Gypsies and Travellers live.

Sam Price, 47, said he is deeply concerned that the proposal, if it came to fruition, would put undue pressure on his own community and their limited space.

He said over the last five years his group has made every effort to integrate into the community and has gained their trust.

“My grandchildren attend the primary school and we take every care to keep our site clean and protect the area from fly-tipping,” he said.

Mr Price is worried the group will be on the receiving end of hostility from locals if a site were placed near their community.

“The five years we have been here making a relationship – it will be gone overnight,” he said.

As well as nine Romany Gypsies the site is also home to a group of five Travellers.

The site has a stables, a bungalow and five caravans, with tenants paying rent. Newport council is now in the last week of a consultation on its long list of 11 proposed sites, due to close on October 4.