Council chiefs refuse plans for gypsy Southampton site

6:50am Friday 5th December 2008

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By Matt Smith »

SOUTHAMPTON: Tories accused of discrimination TORY council leaders in Southampton have been branded “discriminatory” after rejecting outright a series of proposals for new gypsy caravan pitches in the city.

Conservatives have told regional housing chiefs they should not be required to find any more space for gypsies and travellers in the city as any spare land available is needed to meet housing targets.

Gypsy chiefs have accused them of racial discrimination and ignoring Government requirements to find them pitches.

Hampshire is being asked to provide up to 205 permanent caravan spaces over the next ten years with between a third and half of the region’s quota being set for “travelling showpeople”, to live and store their fairground and circus equipment.

Southampton already has a permanent 14-space site at Kanes Hill, Botley Road, but was told it should find another ten to 14 pitches.

But Cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Royston Smith, said all four options offered by the South East England Regional Assembly were flawed as they took no account of the lack of availability of land.

He said: “We don’t have very much land and with a requirement of 16,300 additional homes we are going to struggle to accommodate that.”

He said the council was keen to work with neighbouring authorities to identify more suitable sites that meet with gypsy and traveller cultural preferences for sites at “rural locations”.

The Tories have already scrapped Labour and Lib Dem plans to build a controversial gypsy and traveller transit site at Monks Brook in Swaythling.

And they have agreed to spend £150,000 over the next three years to stop them using parks and green spaces to set up illegal campsites. The cash will be used to beef up boundaries and secure entrance points.

Basil Burton, chairman of Romany Rights Association, said: “They are trying to get rid of gypsies and travellers from the city.

“Saying you’ve got room for non-gypsies but not room for gypsies, if that is not racial discrimination I don’t know what is.”

He added: “We can’t help being born a gypsy, no more than Prince Charles was born the future king.”

There are already five council- run, permanent campsites in Hampshire providing around 100 spaces.

Portsmouth city chiefs, who were told to should find an extra eight and ten pitches, have voiced similar objections to Southampton.

Winchester City Council, which was told to find between 17 and 32 more pitches, is still considering its response.