Travellers move on to war memorial site (From Echo)
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Travellers move on to war memorial site
8:00am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in
TRAVELLERS who were served with a court notice to move off a Shoebury Park last week, have pitched up next to a war memorial just yards away.
Southend Council was granted an order to move travellers from Gunner’s Park on Friday. They complied with the order on Sunday by moving across Campfield Road opposite the park, pitching their caravans and vehicles beside flower beds at the memorial to the fallen soldiers of two world wars.
Astonished councillors watched in amazement as the travellers, who had been on Gunner’s Park for more than a week, moved to their new site right under their noses.
Tony Cox, Conservative councillor for Shoebury West, said: “On Sunday night myself and fellow councillor Derek Jarvis went to the park to ask them to move. They had moved away from the original area, but had gone to a new retail unit on the park. We managed to persuade them to move, but we could see they were looking for somewhere else to go right in front of us.
“They moved to the war memorial, and as the order was for Gunner’s Park there was nothing we could do.”
Calling for the law to be amended to prevent such incidents. Mr Cox added: “They know the law. In front of us they were on the phone getting advice on where they could go. They went round the back of the health centre, but they know they can’t stop in car parks so they just moved on the memorial ground.
“What do we have to do to stop these people who pay no council tax and leave us to count the cost of clearing up after them?
“Do we have to move concrete blocks on to every piece of open land?”
Comments(27)
fletch12107
says...
8:59am Tue 7 Jul 09
Winston Smith
says...
9:20am Tue 7 Jul 09
I hope all the bleeding-heart liberals are watching this. I'd like to see them justify this blatant law breaking.
Winston Smith
says...
9:21am Tue 7 Jul 09
These disrespectful scum should be deported, now.
maureen
says...
9:39am Tue 7 Jul 09
Soozie
says...
9:47am Tue 7 Jul 09
WE probably would be if we pulled a stunt like this.
Thames Gateway
says...
10:01am Tue 7 Jul 09
Every year this happens, part of the few nicer areas of our town become desecrated no-go areas when these twerps arrive to ruin it for everybody else.
The politicians and the police know the feelings of the general pub;ic on this, but repeatedly fail to seek any meaningful changes that would allow them to stop these activities in their tracks.
I know if put to the vote, what the vast majority of people would choose to do with the 'traveller' problem......
MWD
says...
1:58pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Kram
says...
1:59pm Tue 7 Jul 09
And in answer to Winston Smith, the Echo's article doesn't say that they've 'desecrated' the war memorial garden - its says they pitched BESIDE it. Hardly the same thing.
Tone-Fu
says...
2:47pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Winston Smith wrote:Couldn't agree more.
Ps. That they would desecrate the war memorial garden like this also shows what they think of Britain and the British.
These disrespectful scum should be deported, now.
Get rid. They do no good in this world, they're mercenary criminals.
richardandrews
says...
3:58pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Winston Smith
says...
4:05pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Kram wrote:If they paid Council Tax, Income Tax, National Insurance, and cleaned up their mess, and pitched on legal sites I would not complain. But they don't.
Am I the only person to have any sympathy for these travellers? Just because they don't share your 'I'm-alright-Jack' Daily Mail view of the world, doesn't mean they shouldn't have the right to live how they want to live. And the article itself states that they are not breaking any law.
And in answer to Winston Smith, the Echo's article doesn't say that they've 'desecrated' the war memorial garden - its says they pitched BESIDE it. Hardly the same thing.
What we have here are NOT 'travellers'. Do NOT be fooled into thinking these people are gypsies, they are NOT. They are NOT Roma, they are NOT Diddakoi.
They are freeloading, tax dodgers and benefit scroungers from Rathkeale In Eire. Who specialise in cigarette smuggling, importing and selling dangerous and illegal furniture, fly-tipping, horsebox stealing, car stealing, extortion (as shown by their attempts to blackmail Basildon Council for £2 million).
I would not be surprised if this lot are just a vanguard, sent here to sound out Southend Council's resolve in moving them on, and test the waters of how fast they will be dealt with.
Winston Smith
says...
4:07pm Tue 7 Jul 09
richardandrews wrote:They already have homes. Nice big ezpensive brick built homes in Rathkeale, Eire. Google 'Rathkeale travellers'.
I agree with Kram in that these people have to have somewhere to go. I don't agree with the location, especially if they're going to leave rubbish, but I'd like to see a site set up by the Council to eradicate these unwanted visitors - at least they'd have somewhere to go - trouble is, where would you site it, and who would want to live next door to it. Everyone deserves a home though.
bob7
says...
6:02pm Tue 7 Jul 09
As Gunners Park and the surrounding area has a military history, maybe the Royal Artillery could arrange some target practice.
midnight warrior
says...
6:07pm Tue 7 Jul 09
wotsit
says...
4:18am Wed 8 Jul 09
siddymint
says...
6:51am Wed 8 Jul 09
Does not this area close at dusk. Quite simmply if they won't to be difficult I'm quite sure if there was the will so can Southend council
BASILBRUSH
says...
8:53am Wed 8 Jul 09
wotsit wrote:Yes, but if the BNP were in power the travellers would be the least of our problems.
As usual its one law for them and one for us. I hate to say it, but with the BNP in power this would be one less expensive merry-go-round. If any one of us tried to get away with this we would be moved on or arrested.
How do these people get away with this.
If they are illegally occupying land, give the police the power to evict them instantly or face arrest.
Why are we so afraid to enforce the law effectively in this country?
Partyboy2
says...
12:36pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Kram wrote:Frankly I'm shocked by this comment. Are you really that naive? What if we all decided to live like them? Society as we know it would crumble. Why should there be one rule for them and another for us? If you feel sorry for them why not let them camp on your front garden?
Am I the only person to have any sympathy for these travellers? Just because they don't share your 'I'm-alright-Jack' Daily Mail view of the world, doesn't mean they shouldn't have the right to live how they want to live. And the article itself states that they are not breaking any law. And in answer to Winston Smith, the Echo's article doesn't say that they've 'desecrated' the war memorial garden - its says they pitched BESIDE it. Hardly the same thing.
Beth the original one
says...
5:04pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Kram wrote:Kram, if they paid their way, i.e. taxes, council tax, insurance etc and didnt leave a mess behind for everyone else to pay to be cleaned up. If they kept their thieving fingers to themselves, maybe people would be more accepting of them, but all they do is park where they want, claim every benefit under the sun, whilst working "cash in hand" doing dodgy work at that, so no i have no sympathy for them, nor do i desire them to be anywhere near me or mine. I PAY tax, i pay insurance and i am probably paying through the nose to cover the costs that this scum cause, so yes i think they should be deported back to where they come from and let their own country support them.
Am I the only person to have any sympathy for these travellers? Just because they don't share your 'I'm-alright-Jack' Daily Mail view of the world, doesn't mean they shouldn't have the right to live how they want to live. And the article itself states that they are not breaking any law. And in answer to Winston Smith, the Echo's article doesn't say that they've 'desecrated' the war memorial garden - its says they pitched BESIDE it. Hardly the same thing.
Ray-Man
says...
5:22pm Wed 8 Jul 09
we may as well all call ourselves travellers and just break the law.
Tow them away for breaking the law like anybody else for being illegally parked.
perini
says...
11:11pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Ello!
says...
4:58pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Winston Smith wrote:Most of them were actually born here so where would you deport them to?
Ps. That they would desecrate the war memorial garden like this also shows what they think of Britain and the British. These disrespectful scum should be deported, now.
Ello!
says...
5:02pm Fri 10 Jul 09
perini wrote:We have public outcry when this Country's police force get a bit physical with people.
Just execute them - they serve no purpose!
Executing people may cause a little bit of a stir.
Winston Smith
says...
7:23am Sun 12 Jul 09
Ello! wrote:They claim to be 'Irish travellers' from Eire. Last time I looked Eire was not part of the UK. I would deport them back to their homes in Rathkeale.
Winston Smith wrote:Most of them were actually born here so where would you deport them to?
Ps. That they would desecrate the war memorial garden like this also shows what they think of Britain and the British. These disrespectful scum should be deported, now.
Here, educate yourself:
http://www.independe
nt.ie/national-news/
travellers-leave-tra
il-of-resentment-481
248.html
Ello!
says...
4:14pm Sun 12 Jul 09
A Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK, in place since the 1920s, ostensibly removes immigration control from between the two islands.
In other words, free movement exists (in practice at least). The objective of the common travel area is that all the territories should be treated as a single unit for the purpose of travel within the area. A person's arrival in the United Kingdom from within the common travel area is not, therefore, subject to control.
There is no formal procedure for passport control between the UK and Ireland (though the ROI has instituted some limited controls in recent years).
I neva went to skool, and I can't read the independent its not got enuff pikturs.
Winston Smith
says...
4:29pm Sun 12 Jul 09
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vangebasildon says...
8:52am Tue 7 Jul 09