I have personal experience of 'travelers' illegally occupying land.
When I was briefly living in Shropshire during the early 80's, we had a large orchard which had a gate at the very far end, leading to a little used lane that served a tiny village.
One day, I noticed that the small field opposite the gate had been occupied by a 'traveler', with all that that entailed (rubbish, old cars, scrap metal, etc). I asked the 'huge' man if he had planning permission to install his caravan on the site, and was treated to a tirade of extremely nasty language and very serious threats. I retreated pronto!!!
That same evening in the Pub, I was told that I was lucky to have got out alive. Everyone said that I was CRAZY even talking to him.
It's a strange side of UK life that certain groups of people acting illegally are left in peace, whereas a single (non-traveler) person doing the same thing would be arrested at once. I suppose it's easier for the police to avoid the type of confrontation that I experienced back in Shropshire.
There are plenty of Council designated sites where they can stop for a while, but taking over, or buying, fields, laying down an acre of tarmac, and inviting dozens of others to live there, is not acceptable. But, this type of behaviour has become very common recently throughout England.
Very occasionally the Police will turn-up, but they (like me) will be threatened, and they soon retreat. Action is rarely taken.
I see that over Easter they've been at it again. Just when everyone's relaxing, they've Tarmacked over a few more acres in Tundridge in Kent, and in Flamstead in Herts (above), and moved in! Amazingly a few 'locals' in Kent were actually arrested for trying to block their access.
Some others have even moved onto a Green Open Space, here in Brighton.
Try parking your caravan on the seafront in Brighton, and start-up a scrap metal business, and see what happens!!! Need I tell you?
4 comments:
But haven't you always loved that song about gypsies?...
"Then saddle for me my milk white steed
- my big horse is not speedy though
And I will ride till I seek my bride
She's away wi' the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
To see them dancing around a campfire with their golden earrings flashing and their spotted red and white bandanas as they tap their tambourines and play their concertinas. So romantic.
Yes, I do love all that, but hidden behind the caravan is a stinking pile of burning electrical wire.
Years ago the open space on the waterfront opposite used to be used by Gypsies. They went around telling fortunes and selling seasonal stuff, plastic chairs, rugs, plants, chickens, or collecting old iron. They're now moved on as soon as they arrive and are stopped from coming over to the island.
They added a bit of colour. K loved haggling with them but a lot of people didn't trust them and there was a bit of conflict.
There are huge gypsy camps on the outside of Athens and they're known for drug selling now
Anyway,
In France the Gypsies used to come round offering to repair old wicker-seated chairs. We've had lots done by them, and they were very good. Cheap too!
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