Gypsies Tramps And Thieves

[Theland]

Should the government take action to make the "Traveling Community," stand on their own two feet, instead of sponging off the rest of us? Go on - Get angry!

[kgt]

In my opinion they are the scum of the earth. We do not have a problem with them in Northern Ireland as the IRA or UVF would not stand for it and drove them out. All we need is someone to drive the IRA & UVF out and NI would be the perfect place to live!

[NikkiB]

I see no reason why members of the travelling community should be exempt to the rules the rest of us have to live by. If I sold my house and brought a mobile home/caravan, I would be definition be a traveller. Does that mean I can stop paying all the taxes currently levied upon me? I'm not against travellers - each to their own. But I've also had them 200 yards from my house, setting up temporary residence on a beautiful coastal garden and ploughing up the grass to mush with their vehicles, leaving dirty nappies and carrier bags and food all over the place. They even made it a no-go area for us to walk our dogs, as there was smashed beer bottles all over the place. They cut down a couple of stray trees that weren't even in their way, just to leave them laying rotting before they left. The devastation was terrible but fortunately the tax-payer subsidised Traveller Patronising Department from our local council came and sorted the mess up.
I'm not suggesting that all the travellers were to blame. It could have been just one or two in the thirty-strong group. But if they travel and settle together as a community, you'd think they would have agreements with each other to leave beauty spots as they found it.

[Theland]

Most peoples' experiences of travellers arriving in their community, are negative. Bear in mind that they flout the law on land use and ownership, dumping rubbish, claiming benefits whilst earning a few bob on the side, and what do they put back into the community?
Sorry, Noxlumos, but your experiences are a million miles away from not just my own, but everybody I have ever spoken to.
There's better uses for taxes than to subsidise spongers like these.
When they come into my area, they don't set up legitimate businesses, and everybody gives a sigh of relief when they're gone.