THE report (Worcester News, Friday, April 15) about the Romany Gipsies being forced to leave the site in Eckington is disgraceful, and Wychavon District Council should be ashamed, in view of the disruption and distress this will have on the families and children.

I accept that they should have sought planning permission before putting in water and electricity, but surely the council could have given them time for the Planning Appeal in September.

The site was kept clean, the police and schools spoke favourable of the gipsies, and they appear to have caused no problems in their local community. Surely, if proper sites were provided, the gipsies would not be forced into the position of parking on illegal land and breaking the law.

Again, we have another report (Wednesday, April 20) of "travellers" camping illegally on a busy industrial estate and causing havoc and damage to property, among other problems that will cost the taxpayer.

The danger is that all the gipsy and traveller populations "will be tarred with the same brush" which we know is not true.

Recently, many of us have joined together in various events, for Trade Justice, a very worthy cause.

Please could we have some compassion and justice for the gipsy population, who try to be law- abiding, but are being put into the position of behaving otherwise.

Providing proper decent sites for them would be a big step forward. Including them in discussions and decision-making would also enable many problems to be sorted out before they occur.

MRS D JOHNSON,

Powick, Worcestershire.