Minety gypsy site refusal "not racism" (From Gazette Series)

Minety gypsy site refusal "not racism"

11:41am Thursday 10th July 2008 in Search By Tina Robins

THE MINETY gypsies are victims of hypocrisy by North Wiltshire District Council it was alleged at a public inquiry this week.

The authority was also guilty of failing to follow race rules claimed the counsel for the families living on the 16-pitch illegal site at Sambourne Road.

Alan Masters told the hearing at Monkton Park on Tuesday the site was closer than the rest of the village to the shops and services of Cricklade five miles away, but it was deemed to be unsustainable.

Yet housing development within the village was accepted.

"He added: "There has clearly been a failure to follow the guidelines in relation to the race relations act."

And following the rejection of six possible gypsy sites in the district "there is accepted to be no alternative available, affordable or suitable sites likely to become available for there people to go to."

Saira Kabir Sheika, for the council said following the previous appeal, which resulted in the gypsies being given temporary approval for 18 months, the secretary of state did not consider the site suitable for permanent planning permission.

Former NWDC planning officer Simon Chambers, giving evidence for the council, said little had changed since the previous appeals although it was true no large gypsy and traveller sites had been allocated in the district. Six prospective sites had not been supported, but there were other private sites in the melting pot.

"To all intents and purposes Minety has been occupied for five years already. However it has remained an isolated and outlying community. There is little evidence, for instance that those in residence have taken advantage of this relatively settled base to ensure access to local medical services."

The gypsies moved onto the site virtually overnight in 2003 but several attempts to win planning permission have failed, the latest being earlier this year.

He refuted the suggestion that housing developments in the village were always approved. Numerous appeals by applicants had been dismissed.

"It is not, as has been suggested, a racist attack in terms of drawing a red line and treating the applicants differently."