Gypsy’s emotional appeal to deaf ears - Essex

From the Enquirer

GYPSY Traveller Andrew West made an impassioned plea in front of a packed public gallery on behalf of his family at last week's meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee, calling on the authority to recognise they were “human beings” not terrorists.

However, councillors rejected a plan for five pitches for Gypsies and Travellers on land to the rear of Malvern Road in Grays.

Before he spoke, the committee heard that 162 letters of objection had been received against the application and a residents' spokesperson and a ward councillor spoke against it.

Council planning officer Jonathan Keen had told the committee that the application was not perceived by the authority to be acceptable.

“It is within the greenbelt, the applicants have put forward their case but they do not outweigh the harm to the greenbelt,” he said.

Ward councillor Red Gledhill spoke against the application and said: “This is simply a planning application in the greenbelt that should be rejected. It has not met any criteria need to meet special circumstances to build on the greenbelt. This is not for significant housing or employment needs and it’s certainly not a benefit for the community.”

“The whole community believe this application should be refused. Our residents in Little Thurrock are against inappropriate development and the loss of their countryside.”

The meeting was then addressed by applicant Mr West who said: “I am a Romany Gypsy. Romany Gypsies are not to be confused with Irish Travellers. Our lifestyle is a completely different lifestyle to that of the Irish Traveller lifestyle. We are a race of people with our own culture, beliefs, language and a rich history spanning many centuries.

“It is in our belief to come full circle. I started the first years of my life in this area before I started to travel. As time passes and I grow older it is time to come full circle and hopefully spend my remaining time on this earth from where I started surrounded by my family.

“There are worries that we will breach the submitted application by having other residents move onto the land. I can assure this will not happen as we are one family on our own and all that we need.

“The only way additional people will live with us is if one of my grandchildren are blessed with a new baby.

“We have owned this land for over ten years. It has a history of granted planning permission for various developments and uses that date back from 1954 including pig sties, stables, mobile homes and other developments.

“There are concerns about us needlessly removing trees and greenery. It is sacrilege to us and our people to destroy trees and wildlife for no necessary reason. We will be keeping as much of the plantlife and trees as possible.

“I want my family to be educated and settle and I pray you give us a chance. We are not here to kill. There are 160 people in arms against us. It's as if we are terrorists. We are human beings.”

However, the committee members unanimously rejected the application. As the many local residents left the Council Chamber, where there was standing room only, a woman who accompanied Mr West addressed the press gallery and shouted: “This is a hate crime. We will not put up with this. Watch what happens now.”

After the meeting Cllr Gledhill (pictured) said “This is a great result for residents who have had to put up with blocked roads, trees cut down, roads dug up and the uncertainty that they would lose the greenbelt by their homes.

“Cllr Tom Kelly and I would like to thank 162 residents who sent in letters of objection, the hundreds who signed petitions and the 70 plus residents who attended the hearing. It shows that residents of Little Thurrock will not standby and have the greenbelt taken from them. However, I was disgusted that after the decision the applicants accused residents, councillors and the press of racism and hate crimes adding they 'would not be going anywhere'.

“The rejection of the application had nothing to do with their background, it was solely based on the planning rules in place to protect the greenbelt. We now hope that the applicants will accept they cannot settle and build on the greenbelt and move off without the need for long, protracted legal action at the tax payers’ expense.”

see also: The Thurrock Gazette - Controversial Traveller site plans rejected