House of Lords Discuss Gypsy and Traveller Planning

 House of Lords Discuss the Draft National Planning Policy Framework 

"The Secretary of State says, when asked about Travellers, that we want to see fair play within the planning system. However, what we have under the coalition is a manifestly unfair system in which the prejudice and racism of settled communities has been given free rein; where local authorities are being encouraged-and indeed subsidised to the tune of millions of pounds-to kick Travellers off sites they own and develop at their own expense; and where planning for Travellers is under a different and harsher regime than for the rest of the population.

For the past 45 years, I have fought for the rights of Gypsies and Travellers to have places to live like everyone else. I am sorry to say that under this Secretary of State we are back where I began. The spectacle of riot police invading Dale farm to evict residents, including pregnant women, small children and disabled elderly people, was the epitome of our denial of fair play to this most deprived of all communities."

Lord Avebury 27/10/11

Resignation call after Somerset Traveller site bid fails

"GYPSIES living illegally on land owned by a district councillor near Bruton are facing eviction after plans for a permanent traveller site there were thrown out.

Henry Hobhouse, who represents the Castle Cary ward on South Somerset District Council, came under fire when his planning application was discussed by the authority's area east committee last week​

The application was refused on the grounds of there being no permanent water supply on the site off Green Lane, Pitcombe, as well as concerns over road safety and sustainability. Pitcombe residents claim Mr Hobhouse has flouted planning law by allowing caravans onto the land without permission two years ago.

Mr Hobhouse refused to confirm if he was going to appeal the decision. If he does not, enforcement action will be taken to ensure the caravans and Travellers are removed.

Villagers feared that if approved, the site could become overrun with caravans and turn into another Dale Farm, the former Essex scrapyard at the centre of a national Gypsy eviction row.

District councillor for Tower Ward, Mike Beech has called for the resignation of Mr Hobhouse.
"There has been a total lack of democracy and Mr Hobhouse should not have been allowed the caravans to stay on his land for so long," he told the meeting.
"He has told us there is a water supply to the land when there has not been anything there for 20 years.
"I think he should be kicked off the district council with immediate effect."

 

Luxulyan Gypsy Site Gets Planning Approval

TWO Gypsy families say they are "over the moon" after their application for two caravans to settle permanently near Luxulyan was approved.
The site at Conce Moor in Lockengate – midway between Bugle and Bodmin – will also see two brick 18ft by 28ft day rooms built at either caravan.
Cornwall councillors on the central sub-area planning committee voted unanimously in approval of the planning application last Wednesday at County Hall, Truro.
Two halves of the Crowley family will live in each caravan.
The plans were approved despite Luxulyan Parish Council objecting to the application on grounds such as "unwarranted development in the countryside" and a risk of precedent being set for similar unwarranted developments in the future.
No one from the parish council was present at the committee meeting.
The Crowleys said they wanted to set the record straight about any misconceptions arising as a result of the parish council's claims.
"We have not just moved here, we have lived here a long time. Our husbands have lived here their whole lives and granny has lived here for more than 70 years," said a member of the family, who did not wish to be named.
"Our children go to the local school and although we want them to know their heritage, we don't want them or us to be judged just because we are Gypsies.
"We're ordinary people just like anybody else, we don't want any trouble. We just want to live our lives now and enjoy the fact we can live close to granny.
"We just wish someone from Luxulyan Parish Council would have come and spoken to us about their concerns."