Plymouth Gypsy bends planning rules because of 'racism and lies'
A GYPSY couple who want to make their Plympton home permanent claim they are the victims of "racism and lies".
Councillors last week hit out at a retrospective planning application by Daniel Small and his wife Christine to change a plot of land from being for commercial use to residential land.
They bought a plot in Linketty Lane in March and moved in with a mobile home, "day room" building, caravan and cars.
The council had refused similar applications from Gypsies in nearby Ridge Road last year — only for a planning inspector to overturn the decision on appeal.
Councillors fear the floodgates have now been opened and accused the couple of abusing what they see as a planning law "loophole".
Mr Small, 52, admitted he had already enlisted the help of the legal team that successfully fought for the Ridge Road sites.
He told The Herald: "We have to abuse the rules — if we did it the right way, they wouldn't let us stay.
"The second they see 'Gypsy' on a planning application, they turn it down. If ours is turned down, then we will certainly appeal — and win."
Mr Small, who is originally from Efford, wanted to dispel fears from locals that the couple would cause problems in the area.
He said they had cut back foliage at the council's request and installed a top-class waste management system to transform the former stonemason's site, which had been unused for about two decades.
"It's our land and we haven't cut any corners," said Mr Small. "I feel like I'm being victimised and I'm fed up with it.
"My family has lived alongside this river in caravans and wagons for over 100 years. As far as I know, no one has had any problems with us.
"Quite truthfully, you don't know what racism is unless you're a Gypsy. Councils are racist against us and people spread lies about us.
"All I want to do is quietly get on with my life."
The couple also say they were targeted by racist vandals when their windows were smashed with rocks.
A Plymouth City Council spokesman said: "The council is compliant with all race and broader equality legislation and statutory guidance. We are determined to exercise our community leadership role in relation to all our communities regardless of their ethnic or cultural background as we strive to improve services, widen inclusion and eradicate racism in all aspects of our work."
49 Comments
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by manuelization
Saturday, November 19 2011, 12:20PM
“First, there are three Groups!
-1- ROMANY GYPSIES
-2- IRISH TRAVELLERS
-3- NEW AGE TRAVELLERS
When you lot speak, can someone among you stop acting like a brain-dead zombie and get it right?
To CHRIS! Gypsy is an ethnicity! NOT a lifestyle, regardless of what the bigoted British press to you, I should know I am one.
So all of you! stop your hate filled ranting! and your slander! get a life, a job, and stop sitting on your backsides all day whinging!”
by whoknows, plumer house
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 6:19PM
“I have it on very good authority, that Mr Small does not own this land but is trying to stake a claim against it in the way of "adverse possession", in essence squatters rights. If he Possesses the land to the exclusion of all others for 12 years the land registry will legally be obliged to give him a possessory title to the land. After another 2 years he can be granted title absolute.
It is not nessesary for a planning application to be filed by or granted to the genuine owner of a property. Planning permission is granted on the basis of the site and not the person applying for it.
The normal everyday working classes know very little of these methods as we work for a living, we dont expect someone to give it to us for nothing.”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone Lighthouse
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 8:02AM
“Hydra,
If the Herald was running a story about transexual Peruvian dwarfs with eating disorders who were claiming discrimination - you would claim or infer that you knew one!
Quite amusing really!”
by Mick, Barbican
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 6:42AM
“M quote- "Mick how many Gypsies do you actually know?"
Well I seen Ian McShane playing one in the film "Sky West and Crooked" if that counts.
Anyway my paternal gran had Romany blood so that makes me part gypsy too, can I interest you in some lucky heather?”
by chris, plymouth
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 6:39AM
“So his gypsy blood takes him to efford, Ridge Park and now Linketty Lane? I've moved more than that so does that make me a gypsy? The site that he is on at the moment is not suitable for housing the access is difficult to say the least, there is no footpath and unsuitable for frequent comings and goings. If the council have any sense they should stop this before it goes any further.”
by Mick, Barbican
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 6:37AM
“M Quote- "Mick Barbican If you went outside and got a life rather than ranting.."
Oh god please stop me ranting (sniffle)”
by M, Plymouth
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 5:30AM
“"In other words they think they're a superior race" Mick, Barbican
So it's alright for you to think that way but not them?
You've been on this site for years spouting the same hypocritical misinformed bullsh1t EVERY DAY!
If you went outside and got a life rather than ranting and constantly referencing the time you went Cosplaying as a vigilante maybe youd get a realistic perspective too! One that doesn't dissapear up it's own Backside.”
by M, Plymouth
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 5:25AM
“Mick how many Gypsies do you actually know? Or do you as usual just get all your 'facts' from the daily mail and skinheads down the pub?”
by Mick, Barbican
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 10:51PM
“Hydra quote- "Mick, Barbican - wrong again - a Gorgio/Gadje/Gorger - there are several spelling and pronunciation variants - is indeed a Romanichal term for a non-Gypsy, but not a specifcally negative one"
"Gaje" and its derivatives is a Romany word for "peasant", which is how their kids are brought up to regard us, which is why they have no respect for us.
In other words they think they're a superior race above the rest of us poor shmuks, so if anybody's racist, gypsies are;)”
by Mu, Plymouth
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 9:39PM
“Hydra,
So you think it is acceptable to discriminate against the non-gypsy community in favour of the gipsies when planning is concerned?.
The ruling a short time ago when a non gypsy member of the public applied to build a residence at Ridge Road Plympton and was turned down only to be later granted on appeal simply due to the fact the applicant was a gypsy.
I thought you were against all discrimination not just the chosen few!.
This man is NOT a gypsy and is just halving a laugh at our expense by using the race card!. You seem just a sucker for any lost causes going.”