Travellers

[Plantaholic]

I don't know your feelings about Travellers but they are causing problems around here. About a month ago they moved into a church car park and the police could do nothing because it was private land, another group moved into a car park at the rear of some flats. Now they have joined together and have set up in a Park and Ride car park opposite Waitrose where GD1 works. I was in the cafe there last week and small boys were sitting on the sofas playing on there mobiles, feet on the table and when asked to remove them they did then put them straight back, they obviously have no schooling. Waitrose have had to instruct staff how to handle the situation and have posted a security man near the door. The children are playing around the cars, very dangerous. They have been given 7 days to move but are still there. I suppose they are needing hard standing for the winter.

[Glammanana]

Plant, whilst I am a live and let live sort of person I really feel for your area,when I was a young mother we had some travellers stop in the park at the back of our house over the Easter holidays so it was difficult for the Council to get a Court Order due to the Bank Holiday week-end during that time my washing line in the back garden was emptied twice over the week-end and to add insult to injury I saw a couple of the children wearing my DDs clothes and am convinced I saw one of the mothers wearing my Levi jeans.
When I was manager of the charity shop one group of traveller women came into the shop en-mass and caused such comotion and distraction that I had to call in help from the next door shop,when they had gone we found they had helped themselves to all the bedding and smart coats that we had on display,I feel for the youngsters as they have been brought up this way and know no differant.
I hope your area is back to normal quickly but there will be a huge clean up bill when they have gone.

[Daisy]

Plant, I'm like Glamm, a live and let live person, but I think any group of people causing disruption and distress to other people are out of order. If we all did what these two groups of people are doing where would we be! Societies work when everyone takes their share of responsibility and contributing through Council taxes, income tax etc, and paying their way. I hope they move on soon.

[Nanto2girls]

I'm also a live and let live type of person.
But, i'm sure travellers think they are above the law.
The kids don't seem to have any manners what so ever,they just run wild.
As far as i know,we don't have any living too close to us.

[Oma]

They are a pain in the bum hear . They pitch up anywhere they can and the mess they leave behind costs the tax payer thousands to clear away .
Building rubble plastic doors etc along with their everyday rubbish .
I have mentioned before there is a large travelers camp next to GS,s school and the children are pupils there . The little girls tend to be fine but the Boys are rough , even the 5 yr olds fight like bare Knuckle fighters .
I must say as it's a long stay camp it's very clean and tidy but police are always there after someone or other

[Glammanana]

Oma I have always wondered about long term sites do the children who attend local schools keep friends with their own neighbours from the site or do they mix with other children from the area who don't live on the site.

[Oma]

They tend to stick together Glam the boys do play with the other boys as long as it's fighting the poor teachers are always stopping fights when they get to rough but the girls like to stick together .
They get invited to Birthday parties but rarely go

[Gemini]

It's a different way of live, and one they are entitled to follow.

However, no wonder they are unpopular when they camp where they shouldn't and leave mess for others to clear up.

[Plantaholic]

I was in Tesco's some years ago and a group of travellers children were running amok around the shop stealing stuff. The Waitrose management have briefed the staff on how to handle the situation.

[Nana]

We have a permanent site in our village & the police won't & don't go anywhere near it.

[Enfys]

We had problems in the past with them parking in our local park but now the council have put huge boulders areound the perimeter so no,vehicles can get in. It’s the mess they leave behind, costs thousands to clear up. Yes, they can choose their own way of life but not leave it to others to clear up after them.

[Clover]

I totally agree Enfys.Each to their own as long as they don’t impinge on others which sadly these travellers do.

[Plantaholic]

We need to protect our lovely village common, I am afraid one day they will arrive there.

[Shemadee]

When we lived in Kent they used to swarm all over the local hairdressers stealing anything that wasn’t nailed down. Did enormous damage to the business as customers didn’t want to run into them.

[Daisy]

Shem - that's awful. How on earth did the poor hairdresser cope.