Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 54541

Received: 03/07/2013

Respondent: Mr Stephen Adams

Representation Summary:

There are plenty of caravan and camping sites in Warwickshire already authorised to take touring and static vans for 1 night or several months. Existing laws prevent people being turned away on grounds of ethnicity. There are also many more pitches than the 30+ you are seeking to accommodate.

The site on Kites Nest Lane is in breach of planning law and was occupied in very bad faith (Bank Holiday weekend when the planning office was shut etc). To suggest legalising it sends a terrible message to the residents of that site and anyone else thinking of doing something similar.

The site near the Shell Garage in Hatton has been breaching the law for years with caravans being occupied on that site. To legalise this send a similarly bad message.

Very disappointed, this gives support to those carrying out illegal activities.

Full text:

It is a fact that there are plenty of Caravan and camping sites in Warwickshire already authorised to take Touring and Static vans (Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Racecourse being just two of several in Warwickshire). If people want to stay in Warwickshire for 1 nights or even several months (or on a residential basis) there are established Caravan and Camping sites (with all of the facilities named on your document e..g toilets, showers, car parking etc) that are already set up for exactly that purpose. There are already laws in place to prevent owners of these sites turning people away on grounds of ethnicity if that was a reason for thinking these sites were not suitable. There are also many more pitches than the 30+ you are seeking to accommodate.

With regards to the two sites referred to in your document.

The current site on Kites Nest Lane is in breach of planning law and was occupied in very bad faith (Bank Holiday weekend when the planning office was shut etc). To even suggest legalising it by including it in the consultation document sends a terrible message to the residents of that site and anyone else thinking that way to get their own way is to do something illegal and then resist the law until such time as the law changes to suit them.

Similarly, the site near the Shell Garage in Hatton has been breaching the law for years with Caravans being occupied on that site in spite of it not being a licensed camping ground. To legalise this send a similarly bad message.

I am very disappointed in your approach which in my opinion gives support to those carrying out illegal activities.