Plymouth warned not to rush Gypsy site plan
PLYMOUTH City Council should not rush into building permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites in Plymouth, MP Gary Streeter told a packed meeting in Plympton.
The council is obliged by the Government to provide pitches for an extra 55 caravans and is considering land at Coypool, on the edge of Plympton, as well as sites at Coombe Farm, St Budeaux, and Efford Warren.
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Mr Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, told a crowd of hundreds at Hele's School on Friday night: "My approach will be to encourage the council to play it long, because it is likely that this policy will disappear after the next General Election. I hope the next Government will not insist on this because feelings are running high in Westminster."
The meeting was told that the land at Coypool was owned by the Adams family trust and Cundy Farms, and that there had been no negotiations over buying it.
Patrick Nicholson, one of the three Conservative councillors for Plympton St Mary who called the meeting, said compulsory purchase was possible but the council could "get bogged down for years" in any attempt.
David Rowland, a travelling showman with Rowlands Fun Fairs, said: "I believe that the three sites they have picked are not suitable at all."
He said a site needed to be close to education and public transport.
Lesley Jones, a Woodford Infants School teacher, wanted to know where the children of Travelling families who stayed at Coypool would be educated.
"We are full and we have a waiting list," she said.
Sandra George of Lynwood Avenue in Woodford, near the proposed Coypool site, said the land did not fit the Government's criteria because some of it was greenfield land, it was steeply sloping, and it was too close to homes to allow adequate screening. She said more of the site was woodland. "Are they going to chop that down?"
David James, a Conservative councillor for Plympton St Mary, said there had been no consideration of putting sites at Sherford new town and at the new developments in the north of the city. His fellow Plympton councillor Samantha Leaves said that by putting Gypsy sites on new developments, people buying houses there would know what they were getting.
Mr Nicholson called on all residents to participate in the consultation process the council is about to launch.
"We need to use the process to our advantage and maximise Plympton's voice," Mr Nicholson said.
"This is a consultation exercise. No decision has been taken."
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by Mrs Lee, Kent.
Wednesday, March 04 2009, 9:02AM
“I am a regular visitor to Plymouth. I have family there and before anybody asks, yes they are tax payers.
If there are any willing takers, let me pull onto your drive for a week and we can educate each other and foster good relations between the two sides.
I could bring plenty of family so you can all get a turn of our hospitality and we yours!”
by Mick, Barbican
Tuesday, March 03 2009, 3:51AM
“If ALL the possible sites are near local residents, I'm sympathetic but it's just their bad luck and there's nothing anybody can do about it is there?”
by J, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 03 2009, 12:09AM
“Mrs Lee if you are from Kent you have no idea what this site is like so I find it hard to understand why you feel the need to always chip in and say the same thing add infinitum.You have repeated yourself more than enough times we all get the idea now, if you could realise this article relates to the suitabilty of a specific site which you are nowhere near and therefore cannot really make any valid comment on it I think many people would much happier.If you wish to vent your spleen why not write to your local paper?and leave the locals to use this forum to debate local issues.”
by evelyn herald, Plymouth
Monday, March 02 2009, 11:31PM
“"How odd that all the pro-traveller posts are being removed?"
Not really even the Herald can't stand travellers and that David Essex wannabe Miss Lee is from Kent and if there is anything worse than a cockney it's a fake cockney.Solution to the Traveller problem easy slip the showman a few quid they seemed to sort it out in the 70's.”
by Conning, someone
Monday, March 02 2009, 10:58PM
“How odd that all the pro-traveller posts are being removed?”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone lighthouse
Monday, March 02 2009, 10:40PM
“Mrs Lee,
You contradict yourself so many times in your last comment. You contradict the supposed historic culture you claim to be a part of against 21st century lifestyle which by the very nature of the nomadic lifestyle you claim to be a part of abides by. I actually think you are walting! A gypsy walter mitty! If not then please explain why you want to accept the monetary benefits and infrastructure aspects of modern society. yet abandon it on all other occasions.”
by Mrs Lee, Kent
Monday, March 02 2009, 10:07PM
“I was actually shocked to find my post removed. All I said was Most people would like the option of a quiet life in an area that isn't over populated. Unfortunately as the population expands this will not be an option so you may as well get used to the idea. The people in this country have a right to marry and have a family. Why should we give it up so people like you can continue in your privilaged positions. And So you think your standard of uset and unsettling is anything close to the Upset and Unsettling of many Gypsy/Travelling families who do not know where they will pitch from one day to the next, whether they will find a water supply to make up the babies feeds and wash him. Wether they will be met by angry nimby's and hounded continually. It is a fact the Gypsies and Travellers have been denied the basics rights for many many years. Its sickening when you here the comments of middle class nimby's who would denied families the basic human requirements to survive and enjoy at least a reasonable health.
All I would add to that is that we didn't opt into that lifestyle, its where we were, the government opted us out by outlawing our lifestyle. The provision has never been made since. Its been a waiting list of decades.”
by Bingo, Here and there
Monday, March 02 2009, 9:02PM
“Actually I was only joking with my previous comments they can't build a site a Coy pool.Where on earth would I go dogging and cottaging.”
by Stu, Plymouth
Monday, March 02 2009, 8:50PM
“EVENING HERALD GET IT RIGHT THEY ARE NOT GYPSIES - They're a bunch of scrounging drop outs NOT Romany Gypsies. This law is totally unwanted by UK resident tax payers and should become a major issue at the next General Election. Copy Ireland ban them! If Ireland can't accommodate them then we certainly can't!”
by Martin, Plymouth
Monday, March 02 2009, 8:34PM
“I say Glenholt Caravan Park is the best site for the gipsies near to Councillor Brookshaw.”