Aren’t gypsies, travellers or whatever they liked to be called supposed to move around? Why do the councils pussy foot around and let them build ‘camps’, usually without planning permission? Are we scared of offending their feelings?

Under the law, councils have a duty to provide sites where travellers can stay, and once they have stayed, they have a “right to family life” under our wonderful Human Rights Act to medical care, schools etc. Do gypsies pay taxes like the rest of the country to fund all this?

Several weeks ago the villagers of Meriden, Warwickshire took a stand against a group of gypsies who lodged a planning application on a Friday afternoon before the bank holiday. The normal gypo tactic is to then work around the clock for the 3 day weekend and complete the site with concrete stands, electricity etc, before the council can read the application. Hats off to the Meriden villagers as they formed a human barricade to stop the 90 lorries carrying gravel from entering their illegal encampment.

The gypsies paid £100,000 for the 8 acre field (I hope this was declared income!!) and lodged an application for 14 caravans. If I bought that land and applied to build 14 bungalows, the council planners would probably have me arrested for being insane.

If gypsies want to live on a permanent site, why don’t they sell their caravans and buy a house like the rest of the population?

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