Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 54735

Received: 02/07/2013

Respondent: Sarah Hobday

Representation Summary:

Site seems huge and would be dominant feature in Baginton.
Increased population with no extra amenities.
Sites are not left in sanitary condition.
Hard for parents to get children into school of choice and will be harder.
Sites meant to be near GP - Baginton residents have to catch Coventry bus to get there.
Small shop useful to older residents. Gypsy children can be intimidating in large groups for staff working there.
Would not be fair on existing community, especially elderly.
Crime increasing and this will add to worries.
Value of homes will plummet.
Traffic already heavy and will increase.
Gypsies own dogs which escape and other animals will not be safe. Some have attacked people locally and caused traffic accidents. Effect on wildlife.
This with the Gateway development is too much development for the village which will be swallowed up and quality of life diminished. Should preserve green spaces and fields. Why Smith's Nurseries when there are empty fields?

Full text:

Proposed Traveller site in Baginton. Ref: GT-07

I strongly object to the proposed camp on the following grounds:
Dominance -
The planned traveler site seems, from the drawings I have seen, to be huge. This will become a very large dominant feature in Baginton. This will increase the amount of residents in the village without increasing the amenities? I have seen camp sites when they have been vacated and they are not left in a sanitary manner. This is not fair.
Schools -
In Baginton at the moment it is hard for parents to get their children in at their first schools of choice in our catchment area. Imagine how much harder it will be for them when there is a massive campsite just down the road and all of their children have to find schools too in the same area too?
GPs-
I was informed that traveler sites are meant to be put in the same area as a local GP? Well in Baginton we have to get a bus into Coventry to get to see a doctor. Why not put them near a doctor in the first instance.
Shop-
We have a local shop in Baginton. It's only a small shop and is handy for the older generation of the village. I have been in the shop when there have been gypsy children in there. They are very intimidating, especially when they go in large groups, even to me and I am 24 years old! I imagine that they are extremely intimidating to the staffs that work in the shop.
People-
Following on from my previous point I do not think this development is fair on the community, especially the older generation of the village. I have seen pensioners extremely upset by the thought of a camp down the road. They do not feel safe in their own homes as it is with the amount of robberies and burglaries that have gone on in recent times. This will only add to their worries.
Crime-
I am not saying that all gypsies are thieves but you cannot disagree that with a camp in Baginton the value of houses is going to plummet sharply. People will not feel safe in the homes. My family has been the victims of shed and garage thefts several times and I do not want to be worrying that it will happen again.
Traffic -
Traffic in Baginton is already heavy for a small village and Coventry road is a very fast road. Adding a campsite of this magnitude will only add to the problem.
Animals-
I will not feel safe letting my animals outside if this goes ahead as Gypsies I've known off have dogs. They are not kept locked up correctly and escape on a regular basis and this could pose a safety issue for traffic, people and their pets. Also people will be weary of letting their children out to play as people in Baginton are all too aware of the issues with the dogs on the campsite in siskin drive that have attacked people and caused car accidents.
Noise-
Baginton is a very quiet village and the noise levels will increase with such a big camp on our doorsteps. This will affect people as well as the local wildlife.
Gateway-
Finally with this development and Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway being approved this is way too much development for Baginton all coming at once. The village is literary going to be swallowed up and the quality of life for all concerned will be diminished. We should be preserving our fields and green areas, not using Baginton as a dumping ground. I would be interested in hearing why Smiths nurseries was chosen as a candidate site when there are empty fields all over the place?
I trust objections will be put before the relevant Planning Committee in due course prior to a decision being made.