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Residents’ anger over plans for gypsy camp

by Jennifer Williams
30/ 4/2008

PLANS to establish a permanent gypsy encampment somewhere in Stockport have been met with anger and dismay from residents.

Last week we reported Council leader Dave Goddard’s shock announcement that a fixed site will be set up to house travellers, in order to deal with the soaring numbers of caravans moving illegally from site to site.

The plan will see at least one permanent camp set up in the borough, after the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities launched a multi-agency approach to the problem. But readers have complained in their droves, many pointing out that it is not the first time such an idea has been suggested.

In 1980, the Council had to move travellers on from an official site at Warth Meadow, after they caused damage and bad feeling among nearby residents.

For much of the following decade the authority struggled to find a suitable site, as residents formed action groups to protest various possible locations.

A website comment from Captainfan noted: "Didn’t Stockport used to have a permanent travellers site many years ago?

"It used to be near Portwood roundabout until the residents decided to completely wreck it – including pulling out toilets, sinks etc – at the expense of the taxpayer. If they truly want to integrate and be accepted then they should comply with regulations such as car tax, insurance and so on, as so the rest of Stockport residents."

In a letter, Mr T Dolan from Great Moor, said he hoped the new site would not be a similar failure.

"A site with all facilities was obtained at Council cost at Portwood, which in a very short time was wrecked by the travellers and anything that was not nailed down was sold for scrap," he added."The site was vacated after all had been removed and the mess cleared up at Council expense."

But some residents have stuck up for the travellers. One reader, Sally Woodbury, said: "I am a Romany Gypsy who does not class herself as a scumbag or a tax dodger.

"There are a lot of good gypsies and travellers out there. All we want to do is live our lives ... we are still here and we will always be here."

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