Object

Preferred Options Consultation - Land at Stratford Road, Warwick

Representation ID: 67521

Received: 09/12/2014

Respondent: Liz Rogers-Mills

Representation Summary:

Impact on tourism.

Full text:

I am writing to object to the proposed permanent gypsy and travellers' site, for the Stratford Road in Warwick.

We have personally been affected by some gypsies' behaviour on a permanent site. My husband sold these gypsies some goods which totalled several thousand pounds; however they refused to pay on receipt of the goods. When my husband and one of his colleagues from the small company which my husband worked for, went to retrieve the goods, they were threatened by the gypsies. There were threats to torch the offices of the company if my husband and his company went to the police. As a result my husband lost his job for doing business with them in the first place. This personally brought to me and my family a great deal of hardship as it took my husband a year to find another job.

Another incident was my mother and neighbours clubbed together to have their shared drive covered with tarmac after being given a quote by a gypsy worker. The job was appalling and when they asked to have the drive tidied up, they were told to get lost. They were told to 'like it or lump it'.

It appears that the gypsies have a different code of ethics to the current Warwick residents.

In addition to this, Warwick is a tourist town with lots of overseas visitors. Visitors enjoy the safe atmosphere of the town and enjoy sitting out in the summer in the market square. I am concerned that if there are lots of gypsies around the town, there is a high risk that they will give the town a bad reputation.

In light of this, I am objecting to the proposed permanent gypsy and travellers' site on the Stratford Road.