Send us your pictures and video by text, email or by uploading. Click here to find out how. »
6:50am Friday 5th December 2008
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.
obelisker, Southampton says...
7:26am Fri 5 Dec 08
Lone Ranger, Southampton says...
8:14am Fri 5 Dec 08
Ian24, Portswood says...
8:57am Fri 5 Dec 08
Condor Man, Southampton says...
9:33am Fri 5 Dec 08
Vonnie, Southampton says...
10:29am Fri 5 Dec 08
goard, Southampton says...
11:29am Fri 5 Dec 08
Condor Man, Southampton says...
11:31am Fri 5 Dec 08
Tommy News, southampton says...
12:48pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Miles Sway, Scotland says...
1:20pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Georgem, Southampton says...
3:33pm Fri 5 Dec 08
“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.”
D.a.v.e, Bitterne says...
4:18pm Fri 5 Dec 08
stuartjebbitt, Eastleigh says...
5:05pm Fri 5 Dec 08
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Search for jobs with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Find the right person for you with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Search for homes with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Search for cars with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
hulla baloo, southampton says...
7:26am Fri 5 Dec 08
Why dont they buy their own land, and property like the rest of us have to.
Why, becauses they call themselves travellers, do the expect special rights over the rest of the population.?
Why do they pull the discrimination card when things do not go their own way?
The council are doing what is best for the majority, not minority.