Council: "rules are different" for gypsies (From This Is Local London)

Wycombe District Council: "rules are different" for gypsies

11:46am Wednesday 16th December 2009 in News By Oliver Evans

A RURAL community faces “turf wars” if more gypsies are given places to live, a councillor warned – but was told “the rules are different” for travellers.

Marsh, near Little Kimble, is “surrounded” by unauthorised camps a “totally incensed” Councillor Pam Priestly said.

She spoke after the area’s parish council chairman blasted suggestions that legal camps could be sited in their communities.

Wycombe District Council has put forward eight potential sites, including Stokenchurch, Princes Risborough and Tylers Green, in a bid to stop illegal encampments (see list, bottom of story).

The move – demanded by the Government of all councils – could see taxpayers pay for the sites, including the re-housing of gypsies at illegal Hemley Hill, near Princes Risborough.

Councillor Priestly, who represents Icknield, said she was “absolutely appalled” WDC had spent £17,000 on a study to find possible sites (see links, bottom of story).

She said: “You have heard the upset it caused. Marsh is a tiny Hamlet surrounded by gypsy and traveller sites.”

It was “hard to understand” how the council could propose caravans for The Willows, Bishopstone Road when villagers won a battle to stop 11 homes getting built there, she said.

Cllr Priestly said: “If the council is really serious about social cohesion and wants to prevent turf wars, it should not even think about this site.”

Great and Little Kimble cum Marsh Parish Council chairman Terry MacKintosh earlier told the meeting residents were suffering “victimisation”.

The population had doubled because of illegal camps, he said, and “social tension in the area is high in this previously tranquil part of the Chilterns”.

Ellesborough Parish Council member John Hambly also said a Bishopstone site once used by agriculture firm BOCM PAULS should not be used because other developments had not won planning approval.

But Councillor Jean Teesdale, responsible for planning, said national policy was that gypsy and traveller sites are “appropriate” in rural areas even if houses are not.

She said: “The rules are different for gypsies and travellers to ordinary housing.”

While she said she had “sympathy” with their concerns, crime was a matter for the police and illegal camps should go to the council’s enforcement team.

Cllr Teesdale said: “You have been suffering long and hard and I understand exactly where you come from, I really do.”

And she backed Cllr Hambly’s warning that gypsies were “cynically using the planning process.” She said: “The system is being used and we are unfortunately as much a victim.”

There was later a furious row when Liberal Democrat Julia Wassell said she was “dismayed” by “sarcasm” and “indirect discrimination” in the debate. She called for a decision on sites.

An “absolutely offended” Councillor Teesdale told her “take it back”.

“No fighting please,” said council chairman Councillor Alan Hill.

A decision now would “prevent this kind of discrimination coming forward”, Cllr Wassell said.

Cllr Hill asked if she would apologise or retract the statement and, as the row continued, said: “If you are not quiet, Mrs Wassell, I will ask you to leave the chamber.”

And Conservative member Councillor Tony Green said: “You can’t have it both ways, Councillor Wassell.

“You complain when we do consult and complain when we don’t. We have a duty to consult.”

He added: “It is not something we make in a back room somewhere. That would be totally inappropriate.”

Cllr Wassell later said she “humbly regrets” any offence.

The suggested gypsy sites are:

• The Willows, North Lee Lane, Bishopstone (1-5 pitches).

• Dry Banks, opposite Kiln Farm, Oxford Road, Stokenchurch (6-12 pitches and up to 2 traveller plots).

• Land adjoining Pettigrove, Lower Icknield Way, Longwick (up to 2 traveller plots).

• Park Mill Farm, Princes Risborough (1-12 pitches).

• Former agricultural research establishment, Bishopstone (1-12 pitches).

• Abbey Barn North, High Wycombe (1-5 pitches).

• Storage site, Oxford Road, Stokenchurch (1-5 pitches).

• Ashwells, Tylers Green, High Wycombe (1-12 pitches).