Parish pays price to move travellers (From Worcester News)
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Parish pays price to move travellers
7:20am Sunday 30th September 2012 in News By Sarah Taylor
READY FOR CLEAR-UP: The field at Kerswell Green, Kempsey, after the travellers left the site in their 10 caravans.
TRAVELLERS forced to quit a site this week left more than just piles of rubbish behind.
The five families living in 10 caravans on Kerswell Green, Kempsey, near Worcester, for just under two weeks were given a court order to get off the land on Wednesday morning but also left behind a bill for parishioners for both the clean-up and the court appearance.
Kempsey Parish Council, which was forced to get the injunction after the travellers said they would only move on when legally obliged to, said the true cost of the court bills were as yet unknown but that they will be paid for by local people.
Chairman Bob Bowley said: “It will be paid for by the parish and therefore by the parishioners.”
The injuction protects five commons in the parish of Kempsey, including Kerswell Green, Kempsey, Stonehall, Ashmoor and Normoor.
If any travellers camp on these sites during the next six months they will be immediately served with the removal order.
Malvern Hills District Council will be responsible for the cost of clearing the rubbish from the site and will carry out the clean-up when the weather improves.
Councillor Bowley said: “There is a fair amount of rubbish there, which is no surprise. They left some tar scrap and rubble.
“Technically people who have work done like this should make sure whoever takes it away has the right licence to.
“We were lucky in many respects they didn’t cause any trouble in the village and as far as I am aware there was only one incident of them throwing a stick at a car.
“They went without any problem as they said they would. Most of them had gone by Tuesday evening before I served the order on Wednesday.
“We were pleased to get them away in the sense that they disturb the local population. People are concerned about gipsies but these didn’t cause any trouble.
“We will chain the common again but it doesn’t stop a group like this.”
Comments(24)
clubber2000
says...
8:44am Sun 30 Sep 12
I assume people like mayall8808 have never dropped rubbish in there life?
You sir/madam disgust me all I'm asking for is for you and your rose spectecal friends to see that it is not all travellers that leave the rubbish behind, the romany gypsies that were out by norton a few weeks back did also leave a mess but this was not reported as all, just because theses travellers decided to camp on common ground (for the use of everyone) and the local do-gooders an people that live in glass houses did not want to be reminded that there are still people like these travellers who prefer this lifestyle they got them moved - out of sight out of mind?
if you treat people with respect they deserve they will treat you with the same respect back, you an people like you do not give tthem a chance you instantly see them an you start your barrage of hate towards them.
jb
says...
8:45am Sun 30 Sep 12
There are powers in law for the police to use but most senior officers will not use them but if this was to be brought in then at lease in some cases they can be moved on with no extra expense other than the police attendance.
I witnessed this happen once a few years ago where a chain in a farm gate had been cut to get onto a field, the police attended with the farmer and pointed out the offence. They left within the hour, although this was before they had their own department in country hall and the backing of expensive legal representatives.
The courts have got to,start protecting the land owners from this section of society.
spider666
says...
9:09am Sun 30 Sep 12
jb wrote:In Ireland the local police commander can order them to move immediately and they have to comply or they have their vehicles/caravans impounded and they are arrested----In England there is no such power to the local police commander----Now maybe people will realise why there are so many Irish "Travellers" over here.Lets get this sorted and give the police the powers to move them on----They want to travel so i can't see them being able to argue with this as it will get them on the road quicker.
What surprises me is that in Some cases, as with this one travellers have causd criminal damage to barriers, chains, gates in order to access the land. I appreciate that given their reluctance to ever give up the guilty party it's difficult for the police to prosecute anyone so why not hold them all accountable and where criminal acts have been committed for access give the police powers to immediately remove them. Having to rely on expensive court orders is punishing the law abiding residents in these areas unfairly.
There are powers in law for the police to use but most senior officers will not use them but if this was to be brought in then at lease in some cases they can be moved on with no extra expense other than the police attendance.
I witnessed this happen once a few years ago where a chain in a farm gate had been cut to get onto a field, the police attended with the farmer and pointed out the offence. They left within the hour, although this was before they had their own department in country hall and the backing of expensive legal representatives.
The courts have got to,start protecting the land owners from this section of society.
jb
says...
9:20am Sun 30 Sep 12
recyclatron
says...
9:34am Sun 30 Sep 12
mayall8808
says...
11:10am Sun 30 Sep 12
skychip
says...
11:24am Sun 30 Sep 12
clubber2000
says...
11:30am Sun 30 Sep 12
mayall8808 wrote:I know nothing about?
clubber2000; i do hope they come to your place next then and you will see for yourself, NO they are not all the same just most of the one's i have come across so don't comment on things YOU know nothing about.
Actually I do know about travellers and their communities, an if they come to my place I will welcome them and give them the respect they deserve, because I'm not a narrowminded induvidual such as yourself who always sees the bad an tars everyone with the same brush.
Just in your experience certain things have happened and the news sells bad light on them does not mean they are all like that.
jovialcommonsense
says...
12:46pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Also why they left tar and rubble when there are plenty of waste sites they could have taken it to?
Biggles
says...
4:20pm Sun 30 Sep 12
.
Please, would their apologists post all the occasions when this is not the case ?
.
They are not wanted anywhere, nobody ever wants them, so why do people apologise for their behaviour, or at least try and justify it ?
.
I cannot remember one single report where they have left land in either the same condition, or better, than when they arrived, and usually illegaly camped upon it.
.
I cannot see the respect they deserve, they certainly don't seem to give whoever owns land any respect.
DAVID1875
says...
6:06pm Sun 30 Sep 12
ey were not using them,for whatever reason.I presume the excellent police have all the vehicle details of the offenders so they can be charged with fly-tipping? Any Kempsey parishoners should be asking Bob Bowley why he did not INSIST that police used their powers as parishoners now get to pay for the clean up.
mayall8808
says...
8:25pm Sun 30 Sep 12
mayall8808 wrote:
clubber2000; i do hope they come to your place next then and you will see for yourself, NO they are not all the same just most of the one's i have come across so don't comment on things YOU know nothing about.
I know nothing about?
Actually I do know about travellers and their communities, an if they come to my place I will welcome them and give them the respect they deserve, because I'm not a narrowminded induvidual such as yourself who always sees the bad an tars everyone with the same brush.
Just in your experience certain things have happened and the news sells bad light on them does not mean they are all like
YOU should read my reply before you comment, i did not say they were all the same just the ones i have come across.
If they ever come back my way then give me your address and i will pass them on to you so you can clear there excrement, narrowminded I DONT think so, just a realist who has had enough of these wasters and if you want to join them clubber2000, be my guest you fool.
jovialcommonsense comments are true too
ushmush83
says...
11:25am Mon 1 Oct 12
ResearchBeforeComplaining
says...
12:39pm Mon 1 Oct 12
DAVID1875 wrote:Please don’t use this website to launch personal vendettas against local councillors. Since when did a parish council ever have the power to insist that the police do anything? It is a commonly known truth that police deal leniently and calmly with travellers in order to avoid a) causing further trouble by instigating a riot amongst the travelling community, b) in order to avoid being tarnished with the “racist” brush. How is it possible to send a bill and enforce payment from a person of no fixed abode? The Chairman of Kempsey Parish Council worked tirelessly to use all legal methods possible to ensure that the travellers moved on as soon as possible, whilst also maintaining a respectful working dialogue with the travellers themselves. If you think you could do better why haven’t you applied to join the parish council? Or if you cannot be bothered with that, at least turn up to the Parish Council monthly meeting and ask your questions honestly and openly, rather than using the internet in this vile and cowardly way. Or, better still, why not remain anonymous, put your money where your mouth and volunteer at the next parish litter pick (see the PACT meeting agenda on Kempsey Hub website) – why not actually do something constructive with your time.
I did warn parish chair Bob Bowley of the potential for fly tipping by the travellers.He assured me police were doing an excellent job monitoring the site but he had to admit to me that,yes,police did have specific powers under section 61 to remove the travellers,but,no,th ey were not using them,for whatever reason.I presume the excellent police have all the vehicle details of the offenders so they can be charged with fly-tipping? Any Kempsey parishoners should be asking Bob Bowley why he did not INSIST that police used their powers as parishoners now get to pay for the clean up.
ResearchBeforeComplaining
says...
12:39pm Mon 1 Oct 12
DAVID1875 wrote:Please don’t use this website to launch personal vendettas against local councillors. Since when did a parish council ever have the power to insist that the police do anything? It is a commonly known truth that police deal leniently and calmly with travellers in order to avoid a) causing further trouble by instigating a riot amongst the travelling community, b) in order to avoid being tarnished with the “racist” brush. How is it possible to send a bill and enforce payment from a person of no fixed abode? The Chairman of Kempsey Parish Council worked tirelessly to use all legal methods possible to ensure that the travellers moved on as soon as possible, whilst also maintaining a respectful working dialogue with the travellers themselves. If you think you could do better why haven’t you applied to join the parish council? Or if you cannot be bothered with that, at least turn up to the Parish Council monthly meeting and ask your questions honestly and openly, rather than using the internet in this vile and cowardly way. Or, better still, why not remain anonymous, put your money where your mouth and volunteer at the next parish litter pick (see the PACT meeting agenda on Kempsey Hub website) – why not actually do something constructive with your time.
I did warn parish chair Bob Bowley of the potential for fly tipping by the travellers.He assured me police were doing an excellent job monitoring the site but he had to admit to me that,yes,police did have specific powers under section 61 to remove the travellers,but,no,th ey were not using them,for whatever reason.I presume the excellent police have all the vehicle details of the offenders so they can be charged with fly-tipping? Any Kempsey parishoners should be asking Bob Bowley why he did not INSIST that police used their powers as parishoners now get to pay for the clean up.
ResearchBeforeComplaining
says...
12:49pm Mon 1 Oct 12
green49
says...
2:00pm Mon 1 Oct 12
8:44am Sun 30 Sep 12
Here we go, once more, lest all have a bash at the minority of travellers and tar them all with the same brush
I assume people like mayall8808 have never dropped rubbish in there life?
You sir/madam disgust me all I'm asking for is for you and your rose spectecal friends to see that it is not all travellers that leave the rubbish behind, the romany gypsies that were out by norton a few weeks back did also leave a mess but this was not reported as all, just because theses travellers decided to camp on common ground (for the use of everyone) and the local do-gooders an people that live in glass houses did not want to be reminded that there are still people like these travellers who prefer this lifestyle they got them moved - out of sight out of mind?
if you treat people with respect they deserve they will treat you with the same respect back, you an people like you do not give tthem a chance you instantly see them an you start your barrage of hate towards them.
Had to say this, i am new here but, whatever you are on clubber2000 it's doing you no good!
DAVID1875
says...
5:52pm Mon 1 Oct 12
dly painted out a dozen areas of graffiti in the village centre,regularly distributed parish newletters to the 2,000 homes in the parish and received repeated public thanks from the parish council for that voluntary work for the good of the community. And what contrib ution,unpaid,do you make to your local community?
ResearchBeforeComplaining
says...
5:31pm Tue 2 Oct 12
DAVID1875 wrote:So you contacted a chairman of a parish council other than your own, provided him with unsolicited advice, whilst stating the obvious for good measure. Once your advice was not acted upon (at least you assume it was not acted upon), you then decided to criticise that parish chairman publically via the internet, presumably enabling you to console yourself with the notion that the world would be a better place if everyone always acted upon your advice.
Research Before Complaining,let me put you right on a few facts.Firstly,I do not have any personal vendetta against councillor Bowley.I contacted Kempsey Parish Council(in my own name)as a community-spirited member of another parish who had recently suffered the consequences of an illegal traveller encampment.So how can I be cowardly and vile?The parish council,as the landowner,should have insisted police use their powers.The consequence now is that the council are left to foot the bill.One of the requirements of police is to monitor such sites for criminal offences so why did they not monitor these offences?If you say that the fly tipping was so obvious why weren't police there to stop it! In my own parish,I have conducted solo litter picks of the local village,single-hande dly painted out a dozen areas of graffiti in the village centre,regularly distributed parish newletters to the 2,000 homes in the parish and received repeated public thanks from the parish council for that voluntary work for the good of the community. And what contrib ution,unpaid,do you make to your local community?
This is despite the fact that the very prompt actions of the chairman ensured that the gypsies moved quietly on within a week, without any incidences of theft or intimidation to local residents. I suspect that many other parish councils who are blighted by travellers for months on end would dearly wish for such a resolution.
I state again, since when did any parish council or landowner ever have the power to INSIST that the police do anything. The police are not going to change their national polices on how to handle gypsies and travellers upon the asking of one parish chairman.
I do more than enough for my community and do not feel the need to provide a list here.
Go polish your litter pick trophy.
DAVID1875
says...
6:02pm Tue 2 Oct 12
the travellers fly-tipping has left the parish council(the local tax payers)with a significant cost to bear.Why do you not mention this in your praise of the parish council chair?Who are these parish councils who are blighted by "travellers for months on end"?I know of none.The point here is that the police should have used their powers immediately,but instead chose not to thus resulting in criminal offences being committed and costs to be borne by local parishoners.You do not explain what your role is within the parish,if infact you have one?Readers may summise you have a vested interest in attacking me for my community-spirit as you defend rather sychophantically local public servants? Why don't you stop showing cowardice,and vileness towards me, by contacting the chair giving him your name so at least the local parish know who we are? Or are you a hypocrite too,and prefer to hide behind anonymity?
ushmush83
says...
11:54am Wed 3 Oct 12
pinkfluff
says...
7:04pm Wed 3 Oct 12
FarmerT
says...
2:58pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Travellers who ruin the land they occupy with their waste = scum of the earth. Not even worth eye-contact.
There's been a few 'real' travellers on the side of the road between Longdon and Tewkesbury over the summer. They have actually left their site in a better condition than when they arrived - their horses have kept the grass verges under control! :-)
mayall8808 says...
7:49am Sun 30 Sep 12
I know what its like i have had it on my land.
The local tax payer will pay again here.