THERE was heated debate during a meeting to discuss plans for a designated travellers' site in Kinson.
Around 200 residents near the Millhams site packed into Oakmead School Hall for a meeting of the North Bournemouth Area Forum.
John Hosker, chairman of neighbouring Longham and District Residents' Association, described the turnout as "remarkable".
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He said: "The meeting conveyed the message of dissatisfaction that the proposed gypsy and traveller site at Millhams was totally unacceptable to the community."
Kinson North ward councillors Claire and Richard Smith and at least one representative of the travelling community were among those voicing their opinions on the consultation process, in which a site near Millhams tip has been identified as one of the best locations for a travellers' transit site in the area.
Sue Bickler, head of strategic services at Bournemouth council, was also there to speak about the council's plans and proposals.
Mrs Smith said afterwards: "As ward councillors and residents we are not being properly consulted. We have been left in the dark about this.
"The council officers said the site hasn't been designated as a site for travellers but it has been put forward as a potential site."
Concerns have been raised that the site is contaminated, given its previous use as an open tip, while residents fear an influx of extra children would put further pressure on schools.
Mr Smith added: "People don't think that the site is suitable. The land's contaminated, the local schools will not be able to cope with the extra intake of children, and there is no history of travellers on the site. This is not a fair process and residents haven't had a say on matters.
"The council has tried to find out how contaminated the site is, and have suggested maybe trying to decontaminate it. But there are various parts of the site that could be more contaminated than others.
"The other thing is that it is a green area, it has one of the best fisheries in the area. It also has to have had a history of use as a travelling site, and that is not the case."
In March, Bournemouth council apologised for naming Millhams as a potential travellers' site without telling the local councillors, who only found out about the plan from a press statement.
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 12:08am Tue 13 May 08
Potential site or not, what is the point of 10 plots, when invariably there are far more who congregate in our town. Look back at Kings Park over that Christmas, some 700 travellers.
As I have said before, this area is one of the few places left where the youngsters and the elderly can go fishing for free. Do you think they will be left alone by the visitors, of course not. Then there is the filth and rubbish left when they move. Of course they will take everything your put in place with them.
Then there is the pollution of the rivers, and the awful view from the Bridge House.
It is not a case of crowding the schools, 10 caravans will not bring a lot of kids in to the area, plus they will not go to school anyway.
Mannings Heath will be relived all over again.
Potential site or not, what is the point of 10 plots, when invariably there are far more who congregate in our town. Look back at Kings Park over that Christmas, some 700 travellers.
As I have said before, this area is one of the few places left where the youngsters and the elderly can go fishing for free. Do you think they will be left alone by the visitors, of course not. Then there is the filth and rubbish left when they move. Of course they will take everything your put in place with them.
Then there is the pollution of the rivers, and the awful view from the Bridge House.
It is not a case of crowding the schools, 10 caravans will not bring a lot of kids in to the area, plus they will not go to school anyway.
Posted by: Mike Pickering, Bournemouth on 4:13am Tue 13 May 08
These travellers have as much right as anyone to travel to the area and to:
Temporarily rent some land, or a house, or a flat in which to live.
Purchase utilities from the electricity, water, gas and rubbish disposal companies.
Send their children to the local school..for which they:
Pay national taxes and council tax.
Then they are free, at any time they choose, to continue their nomadic lifestyle - as is their, and everyone's right, and travel to another part of the country.
Anyone who doesnt do these few simple things that we are required to do, as part of living in a civilised society on a small, finitie island, is
just
a
criminal.
It's not difficult to do those things, housing is available, with all the pipes and wires you'd need, my dear - travel in, live for a bit, then travel on again. Easy.
I believe I read somewhere that not taking responsibility for doing the above is not a part of some people's "culture", whatever that means, and that somehow means they get a free ride and not arrested in the same way people who don't declare themselves of that "culture".
This is of course, baseless, idiotic nonsense, and only the very gullible would believe it.
Again - travellers - the people of Poole and Bournemouth welcome you. Enjoy our fine air and seaside walks, open spaces and bustling metropolitan areas. Just don't dump shoddy caravans around and start stringing up washing - we all manage not to, eh ?
These travellers have as much right as anyone to travel to the area and to:
Temporarily rent some land, or a house, or a flat in which to live.
Purchase utilities from the electricity, water, gas and rubbish disposal companies.
Send their children to the local school..for which they:
Pay national taxes and council tax.
Then they are free, at any time they choose, to continue their nomadic lifestyle - as is their, and everyone's right, and travel to another part of the country.
Anyone who doesnt do these few simple things that we are required to do, as part of living in a civilised society on a small, finitie island, is
just
a
criminal.
It's not difficult to do those things, housing is available, with all the pipes and wires you'd need, my dear - travel in, live for a bit, then travel on again. Easy.
I believe I read somewhere that not taking responsibility for doing the above is not a part of some people's "culture", whatever that means, and that somehow means they get a free ride and not arrested in the same way people who don't declare themselves of that "culture".
This is of course, baseless, idiotic nonsense, and only the very gullible would believe it.
Again - travellers - the people of Poole and Bournemouth welcome you. Enjoy our fine air and seaside walks, open spaces and bustling metropolitan areas. Just don't dump shoddy caravans around and start stringing up washing - we all manage not to, eh ?
Posted by: rob.meadows, Bournemouth on 7:49am Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]Mike Pickering[/bold] wrote:
These travellers have as much right as anyone to travel to the area and to: Temporarily rent some land, or a house, or a flat in which to live. Purchase utilities from the electricity, water, gas and rubbish disposal companies. Send their children to the local school..for which they: Pay national taxes and council tax. Then they are free, at any time they choose, to continue their nomadic lifestyle - as is their, and everyone's right, and travel to another part of the country. Anyone who doesnt do these few simple things that we are required to do, as part of living in a civilised society on a small, finitie island, is just a criminal. It's not difficult to do those things, housing is available, with all the pipes and wires you'd need, my dear - travel in, live for a bit, then travel on again. Easy. I believe I read somewhere that not taking responsibility for doing the above is not a part of some people's "culture", whatever that means, and that somehow means they get a free ride and not arrested in the same way people who don't declare themselves of that "culture". This is of course, baseless, idiotic nonsense, and only the very gullible would believe it. Again - travellers - the people of Poole and Bournemouth welcome you. Enjoy our fine air and seaside walks, open spaces and bustling metropolitan areas. Just don't dump shoddy caravans around and start stringing up washing - we all manage not to, eh ?[/quote] Wow,Problem solved.The next thing to do Mr Pickering is to pick up the phone and telephone Bournemouth Council ask for Sue Bicklers extension,tell her where you live and the nearest open space and where place the travellers site there.Oh and by the way don't forget to tell your neighbours and the local community.
Mike Pickering wrote:
These travellers have as much right as anyone to travel to the area and to: Temporarily rent some land, or a house, or a flat in which to live. Purchase utilities from the electricity, water, gas and rubbish disposal companies. Send their children to the local school..for which they: Pay national taxes and council tax. Then they are free, at any time they choose, to continue their nomadic lifestyle - as is their, and everyone's right, and travel to another part of the country. Anyone who doesnt do these few simple things that we are required to do, as part of living in a civilised society on a small, finitie island, is just a criminal. It's not difficult to do those things, housing is available, with all the pipes and wires you'd need, my dear - travel in, live for a bit, then travel on again. Easy. I believe I read somewhere that not taking responsibility for doing the above is not a part of some people's "culture", whatever that means, and that somehow means they get a free ride and not arrested in the same way people who don't declare themselves of that "culture". This is of course, baseless, idiotic nonsense, and only the very gullible would believe it. Again - travellers - the people of Poole and Bournemouth welcome you. Enjoy our fine air and seaside walks, open spaces and bustling metropolitan areas. Just don't dump shoddy caravans around and start stringing up washing - we all manage not to, eh ?
Wow,Problem solved.The next thing to do Mr Pickering is to pick up the phone and telephone Bournemouth Council ask for Sue Bicklers extension,tell her where you live and the nearest open space and where place the travellers site there.Oh and by the way don't forget to tell your neighbours and the local community.
Posted by: Nighthawk, Bournemouth on 10:59am Tue 13 May 08
We said rob.meadows.
Totally agree with you. What Mike Pickering is overlooking is that these Travellers or Didicoys as we referred to them when I lived in Frome Somerset, (which incidentally has a permanent site for them), are not to be confused with Romany Gypsies, who are very clean living folk, completely respectful of the land and other people. These Travellers are often described as "undesirables" , which is a title in my opinion well earned. When I lived in Frome, they would steal from the local residents washing lines, steal the ducks from the local river in Frome to either cook and eat or sell on. Leave endless rubbish where ever they went. Did not pay Council Tax or road tax. Their vehicles, usually open backed trucks, would pull up outside the schools with no tax, bald tyres, etc etc. They would have no respect for anyone else dropping kids off at the school. My son and I almost got knocked down when trying to cross the road outside his infant school. As we stepped off the pavement, an unkempt male Traveller suddenly pulled up at the very same kerb, at speed right in front of us. If I had not grabbed my son tightly by the hand and pulled him back, he would have been mown down and almost certainly killed instantly. The Traveller children take up valuable places at the local schools without having to go onto a waiting list, then at the drop of a hat, leave the school when the family decide to move on, or are kicked off land. Thus depriving a child from a family resident in the area, a valuable place at the school.
I could go on forever, the list is endless. These people have no respect, therefore do not deserve any in return. You get out of life what you put into it, its as simple as that. You treat folk the way you would like to be treated yourself. Fail to do this and I have no sympathy for anyone, who ever they are. It's life, as they say.
We said rob.meadows.
Totally agree with you. What Mike Pickering is overlooking is that these Travellers or Didicoys as we referred to them when I lived in Frome Somerset, (which incidentally has a permanent site for them), are not to be confused with Romany Gypsies, who are very clean living folk, completely respectful of the land and other people. These Travellers are often described as "undesirables" , which is a title in my opinion well earned. When I lived in Frome, they would steal from the local residents washing lines, steal the ducks from the local river in Frome to either cook and eat or sell on. Leave endless rubbish where ever they went. Did not pay Council Tax or road tax. Their vehicles, usually open backed trucks, would pull up outside the schools with no tax, bald tyres, etc etc. They would have no respect for anyone else dropping kids off at the school. My son and I almost got knocked down when trying to cross the road outside his infant school. As we stepped off the pavement, an unkempt male Traveller suddenly pulled up at the very same kerb, at speed right in front of us. If I had not grabbed my son tightly by the hand and pulled him back, he would have been mown down and almost certainly killed instantly. The Traveller children take up valuable places at the local schools without having to go onto a waiting list, then at the drop of a hat, leave the school when the family decide to move on, or are kicked off land. Thus depriving a child from a family resident in the area, a valuable place at the school.
I could go on forever, the list is endless. These people have no respect, therefore do not deserve any in return. You get out of life what you put into it, its as simple as that. You treat folk the way you would like to be treated yourself. Fail to do this and I have no sympathy for anyone, who ever they are. It's life, as they say.
Posted by: Mark, Bournemouth on 11:15am Tue 13 May 08
Back to basics, I cannot for one second understand why taxes from hardworking law abiding members of the community should be used to fund a parasitic and usually criminal lifestyle.
But then this is nuLabour political correctness - take from the workers and give to the undeserving, it's going on everywhere.
Back to basics, I cannot for one second understand why taxes from hardworking law abiding members of the community should be used to fund a parasitic and usually criminal lifestyle.
But then this is nuLabour political correctness - take from the workers and give to the undeserving, it's going on everywhere.
Posted by: Mike Pickering, Bournemouth on 8:57pm Tue 13 May 08
No, Rob - you fail to understand my point.
My point is that anyone is free to come and go from and to any town in the UK, but must abide by the rules of the land..
Live on land you've bought or rented, pay for the services you enjoy, don't leave a mess.
That's it,
That's all everyone else has to do.
Quite why everyone has to pay extra for, and grant different rights to a group of people that don't want to follow those rules is beyond me, whether they call themselves Romany, Romans, Rod, Jane or Freddy.
Sure we'd all like to roam around the countryside not paying tax, it sounds great - but grow up - we can't do it. It wouldnt and does not work.
I won't pay for it.
No, Rob - you fail to understand my point.
My point is that anyone is free to come and go from and to any town in the UK, but must abide by the rules of the land..
Live on land you've bought or rented, pay for the services you enjoy, don't leave a mess.
That's it,
That's all everyone else has to do.
Quite why everyone has to pay extra for, and grant different rights to a group of people that don't want to follow those rules is beyond me, whether they call themselves Romany, Romans, Rod, Jane or Freddy.
Sure we'd all like to roam around the countryside not paying tax, it sounds great - but grow up - we can't do it. It wouldnt and does not work.
I won't pay for it.
Posted by: gypsysally, taunton on 10:01pm Wed 14 May 08
Thank you to the person that said Romani Gypsy are difrent, i am a romani but we still get treeted badly, i bought my own land applied for planning in the coret way but i came up with the same objections, i have lived here for over a year get on very well with most but i get tould becouse i am clean and my home is a park home ,thay say now i am bretending to be a gypsy to flout planning laws. the fact i have put all my money into my home and unlike houses dwellers will never get anythink back i was prepeard to do this to keep my culture.we will never win thay said at first the land would look bad with a caravan on it now it looks to much like a house , one villager tould me my father could not be a Gypsy becouse he lives in Australia, what i do notes that people who write in about Gypsys & travellers fail to say that parts of there communitys are to like this,
Thank you to the person that said Romani Gypsy are difrent, i am a romani but we still get treeted badly, i bought my own land applied for planning in the coret way but i came up with the same objections, i have lived here for over a year get on very well with most but i get tould becouse i am clean and my home is a park home ,thay say now i am bretending to be a gypsy to flout planning laws. the fact i have put all my money into my home and unlike houses dwellers will never get anythink back i was prepeard to do this to keep my culture.we will never win thay said at first the land would look bad with a caravan on it now it looks to much like a house , one villager tould me my father could not be a Gypsy becouse he lives in Australia, what i do notes that people who write in about Gypsys & travellers fail to say that parts of there communitys are to like this,
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