Treatment of Travellers is 'ethnic cleansing' - Lincolnshire

From the Grimsby Telegraph

A CAMPAIGNER acting for the Travellers living in Grimsby has claimed that their treatment by the council is tantamount to "ethnic cleansing" – as they are moved on again.

North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) workers, together with police, yesterday served yet another direction to leave on Travellers at Gilbey Road.

They moved there last week after the court ordered them to leave land off Weelsby Avenue.

The direction requires them to leave immediately or be issued with a court summons.

Another group, who had also been in Weelsby Avenue, are on private land near Tesco at Hewitt's Circus. The landowner has not asked for assistance, so NELC has not, as yet, served notice.

It comes as all entrances to Thorpe Park were blocked by the police and security yesterday after it is believed Travellers tried to move there.

It is not known why, although it is believed that Travellers moved from Hewitt's Circus to the car park next to the Humber Mouth Yacht Club.

The manager refused to comment. NELC's action has led to criticism from Shay Clipson, 56, a Romany Gypsy who settled in the area with husband Mike and is now fighting for Travellers' rights.

She defended them during a recent court case when NELC got an order to remove Travellers from land off Weelsby Avenue.

Mrs Clipson has vowed to take NELC to a judicial review and claims that the authority is "maverick" in its approach.

She said: "What the council is doing is ethnic cleansing and ignoring their human rights."

Council leader Chris Shaw said: "Ethnic cleansing is where people are forced out of the area they're from – but the Travellers are not from here.

"Mrs Clipson has been given a response from the council but she plans to take us to judicial review, so I can't comment."

Mrs Clipson argues NELC has a responsibility to people made homeless within its boundaries.

The council claimed a number of Travellers have been offered accommodation – although Mrs Clipson said: "Bricks and mortar are not the answer – many Gypsies experience mental health issues if forced to live in houses."