Portishead residents - 'We don't want travellers'
People living in Portishead have raised concerns about the possibility of a gipsy and travellers' site being set up in the town.
Local residents had their say at the first of a series of consultation meetings being organised by North Somerset Council to canvass opinion on where new traveller and gipsy sites should be located across the district.
Under new Government legislation, North Somerset Council has to provide an extra 36 residential pitches and 10 new transit pitches by 2011. although a decision on where the new pitches will be sited is some way off, people attending the consultation at the Somerset Hall in Portishead said they did not want a traveller or gipsy camp in the town.
Amanda Hicks, 37, of Portishead, said: "I think having a travellers' camp in or near the town could reduce the value of properties in Portishead. People pay a premium to live somewhere nice like Portishead.
"The town already has lots of houses and not enough amenities to cope with the growing population and putting a travellers' camp here will just add to the problem."
Nancy Averis, 37, of Portbury, said travellers had recently descended on the village, but were moved on by police.
Mrs Averis said: "I do feel for the transient community and understand they need to be provided for.
"But I think Portishead is a totally unsuitable area for a camp.
"People like living here and there is a great community spirit and people feel safe as crime levels in Portishead are pretty low. People have paid a lot of money to live in Portishead and the area is particularly popular with young families and we want to retain it as a nice place to live."
Barry Randall, 63, who works as a driver, has lived in Portishead for more than 20 years. He said he felt Portishead would be the wrong place for any traveller or gipsy site.
Mr Randall said: "I am sure the majority of the traveller community are respectable people, but you do hear some horrific stories about when certain groups set up camp in an area. Portishead is a great place to live and I cannot see any benefit to the town of having such a camp here."
Currently there are 42 residential pitches in six locations across North Somerset but there are no transit pitches.
The council already has a travellers' camp at Willowmead at Locking Castle which offers five pitches.
There is also the privately owned camp, Moorland Park, at Hewish which is owned by local businessman Peter Penfold and has 33 pitches.
There are also other pitches at Box Bush Lane and Travellers Rest, Puxton and at Clevedon Road, Failand.
The transit pitches would allow the council to move on travellers who turn up and set up camp on illegal sites. All travellers using the pitches would have to pay rent to cover the running costs. It is likely that the new sites will be split between the north and the south of the district.
A series of exhibitions is being held around the district over the next month where residents can find out more and speak to planning officers. Exhibitions will be held from 1pm to 8pm at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre in Nailsea today and at Clevedon Town Council offices on Thursday. For details on further exhibitions, call 0193 442 6177.
14 Comments
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by gypsy, portishead
Monday, July 05 2010, 1:26AM
“i think it is ignorent that you people do not give gypsies a chance, we are good people, and just like any other race there are a few bad apples, but the majority of us are good people! the government needs to do more to provide for gypsies and travellers as we are human beings too, people look down on us like we are some sort of muck! there is no need for it, dont be so judgemental, maybe if a gypsy site is put in portishead, try talking to the gypsies, make friends, instead of moaning and making enemies!”
by Tim, Portishead
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 10:21PM
“WTF? I think I may have stumbled on some kind of in-joke, care to enlighten me?”
by Anon, Portishead
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 3:50PM
“Yes Steve I agree.
......'I am off on an unpaid working holiday to Malawi this week to work with young people'.......
Tim
Portishead”
by Steve, Glastonbury
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 1:20PM
“If so called Travellers made better neighbours they would get more sites. Simple as that! Do as you would be done by eh?”
by Tim, Portishead
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 7:42AM
“Holiday? I wish. New Job? I like the one I'm in. I think you may have me confused with someone else.
Girls's home at Lake Grounds? Either the carpenters from Coventry I met buying chips at the Lake Cafe got it wrong or they were down here working on the Northerncare Girls Home and they seemed pretty certain. If that's inside info then yep I'm on the inside, though why they would want a trainee veterinary assistant is beyond me.”
by Paul, Portishead
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 6:28PM
“Bus shelters!! Shocking!!! They will attract all the pigeons...any where but here. Get your point loud and clear Andy...would be good to hear what it was like in your community and your experiences, but my guess is we do not need to know? Tim on here again 'moaning' that is also interesting where does it mention 'girls' ....dum dee dum....inside info!!!!”
by Andy, Birmingham
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 5:52PM
“Would love to be able to live in the town I grew up in but can't afford to. Been reading all about what is happening to my old home town which I still visit regularly. We have closed down care homes in my community and have had to suffer Gypsies. All I can say is until you have suffered with both these situations I am afraid you are not really able to always see the reality. Everyone has a right to voice their opinions even when they are sharing experiences that you might not want to hear.
Tony I like your style and sense of humor it brought a well needed smile to my face!
Tim how was your holiday? You are back very soon and when is it you start your new job? Job adverts still say 'boys'.”
by Tony, Portishead
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 4:11PM
“It is a shame Sarah, as is the humour bypass that descended on the wider community which accompanied their tolerance level lowering whilst they slept.”
by Tim, Portishead
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 1:12PM
“The joy of having meetings to discuss such things is that its' always the same old faces, same old moaners, usually supported by the same old councillors and the press always forgets to mention that the other 20,000 resdients either don't care or are happy with the situations in questions. Still, there's no news in people agreeing to something.
And it's good to see the care home will be opening next month (for girls not boys apparently) but the same old moaners will still find some headlining grabbing atrocity to shock us all which will rpobably not affect their life's in the least.”
by Sarah, Portishead
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 12:49PM
“Tony, dont you find it a real shame? I would love to be proud of the town I live in but I think the attitude of some people is a disgrace. What on earth makes them any better than any other area of the South West?? If you ask me, things like this can enrich a community and its a real shame to see people snub it before it's given a chance. This includes the care home.”