Should Gypsies be banned?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...blight-of-gypsy-sites

In this the 21st century, isn't it now time for all illegal pitching of so called 'Gypsies' caravans to be banned?

Why should a certain group of people be allowed to wander around the country pitching their vans where they like, then leave the site in such a mess it costs the Council Tax payer thousands of pounds to clear the mess, while they themselves are not charged a penny?

[123everton]

They used to have approved sites for them to stay at, the law used to stipulate that councils had to provide them (Thatcher did away with it), this is what happens when you place lawful impediments in the way of cultural expression.
AOG I would hate to live in your utopia.

[jomifl]

'Gypsy' is a catch all name that covers a wide spectrum of cultural groups. From true Romanies to shifless ne'er do wells. Between these two extremes there are a lot of people who have as valid a lifestyle as mainstream society and don't do any harm. You've been reading the wrong newspapers.

[R1Geezer]

I don't think you can ban them but enforcing the law would be a start.Also give local authorities powers to impound their Mercs and Porsches to pay for clearing up their sh1te and also give them powers to move them on instantly, that ought to do it.

[mollykins]

Yes.

It wouldn't be so bad if they paid taxes etc, to at least cover the cost of their mess.

[joeluke]

Gypsies are scum, wouldn't trust one as far as I could throw him

[modeller]

Quite right 123everton # AOG I would hate to live in your utopia. # You continue to live in your fantasy world instead . If Maggie was wrong why didn't Labour do something about it they had 13 years. # cultural expression. # I've seen dung heaps cleaner than the way two sites were left by your 'Gypsy ' friends . They ripped out entire toilet blocks and electricity points. You call that # cultural expression. #. Once they moved on they took their # cultural expression. # with them and the crime level dropped. I worked with them and all I can say joeluke has got it about right.

[Bobbisox]

the true Romany Gypsy is born into that way of life just as an Amish, Catholic , Protestant is...

[askyourgran]

The true Romany gypsy lives off the land and only takes what it needs, they are at one with nature and live a simple life, nowadays they are few and far between. Then we have Travellers, when they leave, their campsite is in a mess and it costs the Local Councils thousands to put back in order. Playing fields childrens playgrounds, nothing is sacred to these scum. They pay nothing and deprive taxpayers and local people of the enjoyment of their green spaces. The Government and local authorities have and do provide sites for them, but they have been known to steal the fixtures and fittings from the sites. More powers of eviction are required, not softly softly PC rubbish, make them pay for trespass and for the mess. No sites? tough move on.

[coccinelle]

It's like everything, you have to go back in history. Gypsies were well liked people as they travelled from village to village and brought news and sold pegs, baskets etc. Then with modern facilities (letters, newspapers, phones) and shops they were no longer accepted. Society has turned their backs on them so we can well understand their being biased on us all. I'm not trying to back them up but just like other cultures aren't 'needed' anymore we should maybe understand why they react as they do. Go no further than red Indians and Aborigines; they were well needed until they weren't....

[Answerprancer]

I couldn't agree more jomifl "You've been reading the wrong newspapers".

[237SJ]

We have a legitimate hard standing in my town for gypsies. To be fair, because they have a hard standing they don`t leave a mess. I did see one illegal site on my way to work in a field once and when they vacated the place I swear if you didn`t know any different you would have thought there had been a plane crash. The debris was strewn for hundreds of yards. The ones we have here (not true romanies but Irish ones) don`t encroach much on people but boy oh boy are they light fingered? They have got stealing from the local market down to a fine art. I`ve watched their kids steal too which the adults seem to teach them to do. They are a bit of a pain but don`t seem to be into violently mugging people - just nicking. Maybe proper legal council run hard standings are a safer bet. It`s better than tarmakking over a field and putting the property prices down

[RATTER15]

Im all for the original gypsy, live off the land, hunt a few rabbits with their lurcher, pinch a few spuds out of the field, The were rogues for sure, quite a romantic way of life etc, the reality is somewhat different im sure.

Modern day travellers really are the pits, make all the excuses you like for them, they are dirty,irresponsible law breakers of the highest degree, they have no respect for anyone, Ive seen their children just 3+ years outside in the pouring rain with hardly any clothing on, freezing cold!! they really are scum!!! and we are paying for major clean up operations after they leave a site that they have destroyed.

They destroyed a picnic are close to me, they lived there for about two years, took half the young trees out of the forest, dug up and burned all the park benches and destroyed the whole area and left with us having to pay £70.000 bill for clearing up all their waste, they are like animals!!!

[237SJ]

Ratter, I used to see an old gypsy guy with a traditional caravan and grey horse on the 361 sometimes. Does he still come around North Devon? And what happened to the ones that pitched up at that tennis club near Brian Fords? is that only when it`s the fair?

[RATTER15]

237sj, I haven't seen the guy on a361 for a year or two, he used to set up camp on the roundabout for a day or two didn't he, people loved to see him.

As for the site near Brian Fords, Brian Fords has just been demolished and a new Tesco is being built there. The travellers are there but not so many, I certainly would never call them gypsies! that's giving gypsies a bad name.

[237SJ]

They looked a filthy lot when I saw them. Lots of rabid looking dogs running around.
I knew about Brian Fords. Tesco said it would stay as Brian Fords. What they didn`t say was that it would only stay Brian Fords for about a year. Crafty.

[123everton]

Gypsies exist, how do you propose to get rid of them?
Proper council run sites as far as I'm aware didn't have problems with mess, the newer illegal sites do.

[R1Geezer]

proper sites just get destroyed by these animals. They rip out the loos, sell the copper for scrap, they cannot live normally.

[123everton]

So what should be done with them?
Maybe permanent camps should be built to keep them locked in.

[4getmenot]

we have a gypsie site in our town that was made for them, where they have a limit to number of people allowed and there is a waiting list. They were buily shower/toilet blocks for each caravan, most of these have been ripped out and made into an extra bedroom. Some of them are fine and I know one that always says hello to me that goes around on a horse and cart. Others think they have to live up to a name and give people abuse and steal from most of the shops in town. One night one hurled abuse up at my window when I lived above an indian saying my place must stink so I just yelled back at least I have a place. His mate then made him come back and apologise to me. We had some illegally park down road, an elderly couple but they put their bins out for binmen every week and kept the place tidy.

[Answerprancer]

All the travelling types I've met have been totally into looking after the land they stay on, burying all their perishable rubbish (including dogsh!t) recycling ther rest.
Then again, they're all dedicated to mother earth and often set up camp where some dubious by-pass is about to be ploughed through a beauty spot.