Homeowners are facing the prospect of being forced to sell their own land to make space for gypsy campsites under orders from the government.They've obviously learned from the best...
Desperate to build permanent sites for travellers and gypsies, the Government is launching what has been described as a 'land grab', which could see fields and even private gardens converted into pitches for mobile homes.
One local authority is now warning its residents that their land could be brought under compulsory purchase if they refuse to sell up to make way for hundred of travellers setting up home in their town.
Terence Ruddigan, 73, who could have a campsite next to his home, said: 'They are just pinching our land and telling us, "you will have to put up with it".'Yes they are. Because they can. Who are you going to vote for at the next election, Mr Ruddigan? Whoever it is, will it make a difference?
Chris Whitwell, of Friends, Travellers and Families, said: 'There are around 25,000 gypsies and travellers who do not have fixed places to live at the moment. We think that is disgraceful.Well, Chris, as I see it, if they have 'fixed places to live', what the hell makes them 'travellers'..?
'The shortfall of pitches should be addressed as soon as possible. Gypsies have been in this country for 500 years, isn’t it about time people started to accept them?'
And using the government as a big stick to force people off their own land in an effort to make people accept you? Epic fail!
Update: a commenter points to this frankly scandalous example of partiality towards travellers by council employees.
Describing the decision as "absurd", Principal Robert Campbell, said it was an "accident waiting to happen".A worthy petition, but it isn't a 'free' service. It's paid for by taxation. Your taxation...
Parents have set up a petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Impingtonbus calling for the council to reinstate the free transport.
There are a million empty houses in Britain. There is no housing shortage, just a housing wastage.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if any councillor believes they need to find pitches for travellers they should first consider using their own backyards before nicking someone else's.
Finally, as you correctly point out - elections do not make a democracy - witness the USSR - only elections in a nation with certain inalienable rights for individuals and that includes rights to property. Take those rights away and you have an authoritarian state.
Well, Chris, as I see it, if they have 'fixed places to live', what the hell makes them 'travellers'..?
ReplyDeleteAnd using the government as a big stick to force people off their own land in an effort to make people accept you?
Thee pitches are pretty expensive to set up too, Julia. In our area they did this at a cost of £2m a year. Not peanuts.
"There are a million empty houses in Britain."
ReplyDeleteTrue enough - I pass a relatively nice little housing estate on my way to work every day - about 30% of the houses are shuttered-up because they are empty..
"..a cost of £2m a year.."
!!!
Did Mugabe introduce a Zanu-only transport service, paid for by the non-supporters? My local council did in March, fully to the letter of Government diktat, natch.
ReplyDeleteBoiling alive's too good for 'em.
Try your claws on this:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_cambridge/displayarticle.asp?id=299792
That beggars belief: "...CREDS has decided to pay for the service on the grounds of improving the attainment of traveller children.
ReplyDeleteThey are the lowest attaining group in the whole of the county, and they think this will maximise their chances of remaining engaged in education.""
You know what else might 'maximise their chances of remaining engaged in education', sweetie?
How about living the kind of lifestyle that values education in the first place!
This is fucking incredible. Just when you think they cannot get anyworse, taking private land at a pittance and housing gypsies on it...what the fuck?
ReplyDeleteThis is just punishment for those parts of Essex which vote Conservative. Labour has always hated working class Tories, and Essex probably has more than any other part of Britain. This action is just pure spite and malice. Not only will they lose their property, the value of their remaining property will plummet and, quite frankly, I wouldn't feel safe living there.
As for that gypsy spokesman:
"Gypsies have been in this country for 500 years, isn’t it about time people started to accept them"
How about
"Gypsies have been in this country for 500 years, isn’t it about time they started paying taxes".
Belive me your council is not even in the ground floor compared to that scum zanu-pf/mugsh*t and cronies.
ReplyDeleteIf they (council) learned anything then it was not learnt well, they are bumbling amatures. Over here is stupidity. Over there is evil.
Sorry will sneak back to my corner just got a bit hot under the collar.
Oh, I'm sure the real thing (Mugabe) is far, far worse than Brown. At least, so far...
ReplyDeleteBut we're not so different. Given different circumstances, I'm afraid we'd be every bit as evil, and not just stupid, sad to say.
Nice blog, btw.. ;)