Ridge Road Gypsy families given six months to leave
THREE Gypsy families are to be given six months to quit land they own at Plympton.
Councillors on Plymouth City Council planning committee last week turned down two retrospective applications by the families to allow them to stay on two plots they own on Ridge Road.
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The plots at Ridge Road
"Two planning enforcement notices will be issued this week to coincide with the issuing of the planning application refusal notices," a council spokeswoman said.
The enforcement notices will require the removal of three mobile homes, together with associated touring caravans, from the sites.
"The council is required to specify a reasonable and realistic timescale for the mobile home occupiers to arrange to vacate the sites and so a period of six months for compliance will be specified in the notices.
"If appeals are lodged against the notices, the compliance requirements of the notices will be held in abeyance whilst the appeals are determined.
"This appeal process, if taken up by the mobile home owners, could take between about six and 12 months to complete depending on what form the appeal process takes.
"The overall cost of this action to the council is impossible to tell at this stage and will depend on whether appeals are lodged by the mobile home owners and, if so, what form these appeals take.
"They could take the form of written representations, informal hearings or public inquiries, if applicable."
The hearings last week, to consider applications by Mr J Keating and Alfred and Peter Reilly, led to extraordinary scenes in the council chamber, with Gypsy supporters accusing the council of "institutional racism".
Councillors hit back, accusing the Gypsies themselves of displaying racist behaviour during a heated planning committee meeting.
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by Boring, Boredsville.
Thursday, November 19 2009, 6:48AM
“@ Herpes (and Thelemia).
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!”
by Hermes (and Thelemia), Plymouth
Thursday, November 19 2009, 1:23AM
“A vest; a belle;
Did journey often I speak;
Quested friendship; In Eden all friends.”
by Will, Gosport ( Originally a Swillyite)
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 11:43PM
“Just to get my 2 pence worth in been offline for a while, is it any wonder that Gypsys cause hassle on whatever land they are on.
In my opinion If the council were to give them some respect, I suspect the Gypsies would give respect back. But to most people and the council they are scum.
Not a traveller but recently moved from an area in Surrey where the Travellers were giving a pice of land for 10 years they have lived there and not one bit of trouble.
And we are talking Surrey here, people that live 0.5 million pound houses, 4x4's and all that commuting to London.
No sadly i am not one of those people either, just a serving soldier who was based up there”
by david, higher compton
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 10:46PM
“Carrie ... quite a few contradictionsin your piece .... tevellers .. but not travellers being just one of them . But the crux of the matter is we cannot just buy a bit of land and do what we want on it ( unless you happen to be a member of the funny handshake brigade - of which we are also angry about ) and you should also be directing a bit of venom towards other travellers who have ( and still are ) ruining it for the respectable ones . Your cause is the same as ours - no different .”
by Mick, Barbican
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 7:36PM
“News item from a few years ago- "On Monday this week, the last of the other gipsy families left the Payne's Lane site after Epping Forest District Council said that anyone remaining would be committed to prison and have their children taken into care. The pressure on the Council to act has increased following the election of three BNP councillors in Epping Forest earlier this month. In its election manifesto, the BNP explicitly targetted Gypsies, stating: 'BNP councillors will press for the power to immediately evict Travellers/Gypsies from private or council lands"”
by RGA Dave, Stafford (ex-Downderry)
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 7:15PM
“Six months ?, what about one week ?. It seems to me that if you're a 'Traveller' you're fireproof and can make your own rules up as you go along. If you're an ordinary tax-paying citizen you can look-out as you'll get jumped on. Discrimination ?.”
by Bob, saltash
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 6:24PM
“Am I the only one who thinks that they have made the place look rather nice?
An improvement on the average abode in Plymouth.”
by Jules, Plymouth
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 6:08PM
“Anna Saltash, if you like them so much invite them to stay in your garden but I don't want them living near me thank you”
by Des Lunsford, Plymouth
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 5:10PM
“Anna Saltash- You say that people are ignorant and where would the poor travellers go. Well my dear there are plenty of camp sites dotted around the country where they coul pay to pitch. Oh but no ! they would rather not have to pay their way and just bump up off the road at mess up the area with their filth. Sorry mate but these people are really the dregs of society AND NEED TO BUCK UP IF THEY WANT RESPECT.”
by Phil, Plymouth
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 4:51PM
“Have a word Red Ken, are you really Alison Seabeck in disguise? I have seen a couple of stories you have commented on and it's getting a bit boring now.”