STOCKPORT is set to establish at least one gypsy encampment in the borough.
The shock news was delivered by Stockport Council leader Coun Dave Goddard, at last week’s full Council meeting, as he unveiled an iron fist and velvet glove approach to dealing with the increased problems of trespass in the borough by scores of caravans and trailers on council and private land.
Over the last week caravans have parked at various sites including an industrial estate in Hollywood and at the Wickes Car Park, Heaton Norris.
Coun Goddard said the initiative - involving the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) - would see the establishment of gypsy sites across Greater Manchester including "at least one in Stockport", and the first multi-agency approach to the issues of unauthorised encampments in the borough as from next Monday.
"The study is being undertaken by AGMA and is looking at places where travellers are setting up unauthorised encampments across Greater Manchester and the study involves looking at where they go, interviewing them about their accommodation needs and looking at how many traveller sites there need to be. The work is being finalised at the moment and is expected to go to AGMA in June.At present I don’t know what will be proposed for Stockport, but one thing is sure, there will be a recommendation about having at least one travellers’ site within the borough, and whether we like it or not, this is an issue that we at the Council will have to deal with."
The Stockport Express understands that a wide ranging search for suitable sites will start across Greater Manchester and Stockport in August.
Coun Peter Scott, the leader of the Labour group on Stockport Council, said: "There is no doubt that we have a problem. Gypsies tend to want to stay in a place and on the whole they would probably run the site quite well but travellers move around and they are the ones who we are likely to have the most difficulty with because of issues such as fly tipping.
According to Coun Scott under the Government's new Regional Spatial Strategy each local authority will be expected to provide a gypsy site. He adds: "Experience suggests that wherever the new gypsy site is in Stockport it will cause one hell of a problem."
Coun Les Jones, Conservative group leader said: "In Stockport, we must ensure that all opinions are heard and at the end of a rigorous consultation there should be no attempt to bulldoze an unacceptable solution onto residents.
"While we appreciate that travellers and gypsies have their own lifestyle and needs, it is essential that this process doesn’t impact negatively on Stockport’s residents and communities."
Steve Brown, head of Stockport’s community safety unit said any site for gypsies in Stockport would probably be close to the motorway network or a major road.
"If we are going to have this site the quicker they get it the better. This would not be a free site and it would represent a considerable investment by the local authority and include toilet facilities, running water, electricity and hardcore for the vans."
Under next week’s new strategy, police will work with statutory bodies to remove travellers by invoking powers including Anti Social Behaviour Orders, possession orders, Criminal Justic Act, Section 61 and 62 orders and section 14 and 14A of Public Order Act 1986, and even automatic number plate recognition.
Coun Goddard added: "We are determined to show these people that contrary to what has been suggested Stockport is not a soft touch when it comes to trespassing on Council and private land."
Currently there are official sites in Greater Manchester in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford and Wigan.
Following last week's story in the Stockport Express, 90 per cent of our readers believe ASBOs would fail to prevent travellers moving onto illegal sites in the borough.
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Phillipa Walker, Stockport (23/04/2008 at 14:45)
Dave Heron (23/04/2008 at 15:53)
Walshie (23/04/2008 at 16:00)
If they park caravans illegally they should have them confiscated.
They should not just be gifted free land instead. If they get free land we should get free land.
Phillipa Walker, Stockport (23/04/2008 at 16:21)
Walshie, I don't believe this would be just a piece of land given to them. It would have to be managed by the council, as a permanent residence they would then have to pay council tax, service charges etc.
CheshireCat, Stockport (23/04/2008 at 19:36)
sally woodbury (23/04/2008 at 22:35)
All we want to do his live our lives keep our culture as we have done for 1000 of years and it as took a lot worst people AND nasty greedy people than you hippocrits to get rid of us , and yes we are still here and we will allways be here.
drew-peacock (24/04/2008 at 08:44)
They do not contribute to the community, refuse to pay council tax although they want all the benefits that this pays for, police, fire, ambulance, street lighting, schooling for their urchins etc.
These people are scum, not a minority group with needs. They are spongers of the highest degree who leech benefits from a society they want no part of, nor us them.
Phillipa Walker, Stockport (24/04/2008 at 11:16)
Ben Davies (24/04/2008 at 12:44)
On the other hand if you are one of the gypsy masses prepare for a truly heartwarming welcome to the green borough of Stockport!
Theoncomingstorm, Davenport (24/04/2008 at 12:54)
Surely, it's as misguided as giving a vegetarian a year's free hamburgers?
Also, if the running water is to be paid for by Stockport council, perhaps they might like to consider paying for the running water at the permanent site I live on ???
captainfan, stockport (24/04/2008 at 13:16)
If they truly want to integrate and be accepted then they should comply with regulations such as car tax, insurance etc as do the rest of Stockport residents. If we didnt we would get our cars crushed. Or are we just the mugs and they are the clever ones getting away with not paying?
cazreg, stockport (24/04/2008 at 15:21)
CheshireCat, Stockport (24/04/2008 at 20:22)
If working for a living, paying all my own bills, car tax, poll tax, home insurance abiding by the law of the land and respecting my neighbours makes me 'greedy' then yes, I hold my hand up - you got me there. And yes, without a doubt, I am VERY worried about the value of my property going through the floor. Poor old me eh?
Dennis the Menace, Hyde (25/04/2008 at 01:28)
jobby, angelsey (25/04/2008 at 13:16)
paul teeque (25/04/2008 at 13:23)
paul teeque (25/04/2008 at 13:26)
SAMBAM (25/04/2008 at 17:30)
jobby, angelsey (25/04/2008 at 18:00)
Roy Gregory, Exile (26/04/2008 at 01:53)
The Town will pay for this sweet and fluffy decision; or more precisely, the Townsfolk will.
Angry of Stockport (27/04/2008 at 09:36)
The authorities just will not take effective action against them. Travellers recently broke into ( by cutting the locked chain on the main gate) the site of the former North Heaton school on Nelstrop Road and set up camp. Two police officers stood at the gate and WATCHED the convoy drive in, taking no action! At an early stage I suggested to the PCs that they should shut the gate and re-lock it. I offered to lend a padlock and chain. To this they replied “They will only break it again”. Many of the caravans being towed in had no lights on - this was at night time - and again the PCs took no action over this.
The travellers stayed for two weeks, during which time they dumped rubble - mainly broken paving slabs - on the site. They appeared to be using the site as a makeshift builder’s yard - they even had a fork lift truck, which they used for moving building materials around and onto wagons. A generator hummed all through the night and dogs barked day and night. When they had gone, the site was a disgusting mess of rubble and other building waste, tyres, calor gas bottles and food/household waste. Some of the food waste was bagged, most wasn’t. Some of it had been thrown over the school fence and onto the adjacent pubic field.
The council cleared the site of rubbish shortly after - except for the heavier rubble which is still there.
So how would giving this band of criminals their own fully equipped campsite suddenly turn them into law abiding rent-paying citizens? It wouldn‘t. It would fail, these people are out for as much as they can get without paying.
The police should start arresting these people and confiscating their property and vehicles from sites. The travellers at the North Heaton site had some fine new expensive cars, big Four Wheel Drive Mitsubishis and the like, with -07 and -57 registrations. Most of the caravans did not look cheap either. These people are not poor, possibly better off thea the residents they leech off. The last things we should do is pity them and provide services for them. They should be jailed and their property sold off to pay for the damage they do and to compensate land owners etc. Any property that cannot be sold should be destroyed.
Prisons full? Build more.
k.henry.s. (27/04/2008 at 21:49)
Why does Stockport have to have a gypsy site at all,
If the council have devised a
CUNNING PLAN,to keep the gypsy hordes on the move.?
But, if a site has to be built
the obvious place is the spare land right near the new
police station/fortress, between birdhall lane and bridgehall estate.this would make the towns new residents
feel secure in the knowledge
that plod is only a stones throw away.
k.henry.s
tigerlily, stockport (28/04/2008 at 19:32)
Next to the police fortress on Birdhall is an ideal site for the tinkers,not only would the police be safe behind their barbed wire and steel plates plus it is only across the road from the fantastic solutions SK,who could quickly deploy to the site to shift the debris piles,fix the showers when broken and unblock the toilets when they've stuffed who knows what down them...
Clayre Booth (29/04/2008 at 16:23)
neil mortique (02/05/2008 at 13:33)