More Gypsies.
More gypsies have arrived to join those already encamped on Manor Park. They all intend to move on to the Downs for the Derby, but it has emerged today that the authorities there will not allow this before 29 May - Thursday next week.
Meanwhile Surrey Police are monitoring the situation and Epsom & Ewell Council is applying to the courts for powers to move these travellers on if they do not leave as intended.
It seems that the Gypsies managed to force their way onto the field at Manor Park by cutting through a drop-down bollard, recently installed by the Council to allow easier access for the grass cutting contractors, in place of one of the two concrete bollards originally installed to prevent Gypsy incursions. My colleague Cllr Jonathan Lees will be discussing with council officers how best to prevent future problems.
2 Comments
have your say
With no legal sites nearby what do you expect? If you cannot offer an alternative site just leave them alone till next Thursday or you will cost the council tax payers more money by forcing the Gypsies onto another illegal site.
In the long run legal permanent and transit sites, with rent paid etc just like any other rented accommodation, is the only solution to illegal sites like at Manor Park.
Do you have an alternative?
In the short term this is what the Police and the Council are doing - letting them stay put until they can move onto the Downs, because moving them on, onto another illegal site, would be worse.
I agree with you completely that the right long term solution is an appropriate transit site. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council did at least provide two sites when they were first mooted some years ago, but were reluctant to provide more whilst other neighbouring boroughs and districts fell short of the then targets called for by government, later abolished by Mrs Thatcher.
There has been a problem for some time with one of these sites, now managed by Surrey County Council, but after pressure by my Lib Dem colleages and myself, action is now being taken, as discussed at a recent Public Meeting.
In addition Surrey CC is conducting a survey of what additional sites are needed and Epsom & Ewell BC have a representative on the working group.
I am not anti-gypsy - I have a number of friends amongst the Roma community - but like everyone else they need to consider other people and obey laws designed to preserve public order and maintain a hygenic environment.
Until such time as a suitable transit site is available, travellers visiting Epsom for the Derby should avoid arriving before the appropriate sites for them on the Downs are open.