Villagers outraged by travellers' camp-site
Two weeks ago, this was just a field – today, it is home to more than a dozen caravans and mobile homes.
An aerial photograph of the site between Bagworth and Barlestone taken yesterday shows the size of the unauthorised camp built in a few days over Easter.
-
aerial picture of the camp between Bagworth and Barlestone
Tipper trucks and diggers moved on to the site on Thursday, April 9, carrying hundreds of tonnes of hardcore.
So far, at least 10 separate areas for families have been built on the 11-acre site, which is owned by travellers.
On Sunday, April 12, the first caravan arrived to set up home and there are now 15 caravans and mobile homes.
The development has outraged villagers who watched as 100 lorry loads of building materials was driven past their homes to create the unauthorised camp over the Easter holiday.
The travellers said there was such opposition to their lifestyles that they have to lay their own pitches and apply for planning permission retrospectively. An application has now been submitted and is due to be determined by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council on May 5.
A temporary stop noticed issued by the authority telling the travellers to stop working as there was no planning permission has been ignored.
Police said they could not act because there was no trespass or unlawful behaviour.
Borough councillor Bill Crooks said he felt there were already enough travellers in the Bagworth, Nailstone and Barlestone area with the Costalot site and others.
He said: "We are doing our bit for gypsy provision in the area, but other councils, like Melton, Rutland and Charnwood, haven't got any."
The site has been monitored by police, and an investigation agency employed to gather evidence of any breach of planning laws.
Council officers are now reviewing the evidence and the detail of the planning application, and are considering the appropriate action.
A council spokesman said: "In the meantime, council officers are working closely with police to ensure tensions between the travellers and residents do not escalate.
"Residents should be assured the council takes the unauthorised development very seriously and will be taking whatever action it can to stop it and restore the field to its previous condition."
A spokesman for Leicestershire Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Group said travellers had no choice but to buy their land, lay a site and then apply for planning permission.
24 Comments
View all
by ian, enderby
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 8:34AM
“It has to be said that the travellers claim to have to take this action as many sites they apply for are unsuitable. This is because cheap land is generally agricultural and not for development and for good reason. If they want to pay £1/2 million pounds and acre for proper residential building land then let them build whatever they want, thats the sort of price we have to pay!”
by Rob, leicestershire
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 2:39PM
“John, you are 100% spot on.
The breaking of planning laws, and endless comptempt for them, is not only making the situations worse, but it as self fullfilling idea..........
Travellers build sites without planning permission, beacuse they feel the local people would oppose it, but the more they build without permission, the more the locals are against them. The Costalot site is a prime example.
Maybe some people seem to think that the planning laws are their for fun? And that people should be able to build whatever they want and wherever they want?
I have news for these people, there are planning laws in place. Use them.”
by John Ryde, Newbold Verdon
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 1:51PM
“The issure here is not travellers or any other ethnic group, it is law.
The law; and in this I include the legalities of planning, should be fair and firm for all, whether it is D in Groby with his conservatory or a gipsy development.
We should all be subject to the same regulations and requirements and subject to the same penalties for ignoring them.
So D in Groby if you erect your conservatory without permission you will be required to take it down.
Failure to do this will rsult in steps to do this for you, therefore the same standards must be applied across the board and include 'travellers' who want to become 'settlers'.”
by Bagworth, Bagworth, Leicestershire
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 1:36PM
“I think the problem that many people have is that there appears to be a 'one rule for some people and a different rule for the rest of the population' policy happening. I agree that there might be hard working Travelling families and we only hear about the bad but the fact remains that they have chosen their way of life and have the same oppotunities to observe the law in their way of life that we have.
I think if we saw the Goverment and Local Councils enforcing the law equally across Travellors and the rest of the community . I for one would not like the site so close to my house but at least the process would have been a fair one with the same penalties we recieve!.”
by Jackie, Leicester
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 1:26PM
“The 'Traveller' debate goes on and there are a lot of deep routed opinions and people are entitiled to them. But there are some facts that really can't be debated. To DD, Leicester. The idea that Travellers have DECIDED not to put down roots, that they have choosen to travel must be challenged. Travellers and Gypsies are one of the three oldest LEGALLY recongnised ethnic minority communities in Britain. Being a Traveller isn't and adjective, it is the description of their cultural identity that spans back oner 1500 years. In the same way that we refer to people as Asian even if they are born and raised here, it describes their common beliefs, origins, language etc. Also to Lisa Morris, I'm fairly sure that terms like 'ravaged' are unhelpful in these debates - we're not talking about the Vikings here we're talking about a group of people that have bought and own land and now want to do something with it. People, like you and I that want a future for their children and a place to call home. Yes it would be great if they had and could progress legally and successfully but past experience has shown clearly the it is, s many have said, one rule for one... If I was to ask for an extension at least I'd get a fair hearing, not the case for Travellers. I urge all of you to contact your local Gypsy and Traveller Laision officer and ask for the opportunity to meet with some Travellers, there will be events all over June (Traveller & Gypsy History Month).”