I saw this story on the Times website, and on the local news last night, and I have to say it’s piqued my ire.
In summary, ‘Travellers’ (Pikeys, Gypsies) have been living illegaly on a site for seven years. Finally, after much hemming and hawwing, and appeals, counter-appeals, and basically lots of pussy-footing around, they’ve been told they have to clear off. And now they’re acting all righteously defiant, claiming they’re defending their homes.
Ah, that would be the homes you established illegaly, yes? The ones which you have been repeatedly told are illegal and must be moved. The ones you knew were illegal from before the first caravan rolled up. Hmm, seems that righteous indignation of yours is slightly tarnished now… Much as you may like to ignore it, even Travellers are subject to the laws of the land, however little regard they may have for them.
Then they bemoan the fact that they may have to live without electricity, and won’t have fresh running water in their caravans/chalets/tents. It’s almost as if they’re trying to convince us it’s someone else’s fault! They choose to continue their way of life. If they want to live in a permenantly settled place, with electricity, indoor toilets, running water, and all the ameneties of a modern home then the answer is simple – move into a house! If you chose a travelling lifestyle, then you cannot moan about having to travel – when you accept that sort of lifestyle, you have to accept all the facets of it, including only being able to stay in legally viable locations, and having to suffer hardships like having no on demand power or water!
Yes, I’m aware that clean drinking water is a basic Human Right, but they’re denying it to themselves, by pursuing their lifestyle and their cavalier disregard for the law.
I hate to stereotype Travellers, but I do have some basis for my views on them; Harlow (my home town) has a Travellers site, so we have our fair share of the blighters in our town, and are frequently beseiged by other travelling groups. I personally have been threatened or involved in altercations with Travellers more times that I can count. I’ve also been beaten unconscious by Travellers before, in an incident that erupted simply because I didn’t have a cigarette to give them. These people are a menace. They are violent and intimidating, leave the places they stop at in an appalling state, and will steal anything that isn’t nailed down. Actually, they’d probably take the nails too.
And yet every time a local council acts to move these illegal camps, or tries to protect it’s citizens, there is uproar from the Travelling community and bleeding hearts groups all across the land. It’s absolutely ludicrous, and it pisses me off no end! These Travellers are more often than not large roving groups of criminals, who do as they like, almost unchallenged. It’s time this changed, and I hope more local councils take heart from Crays Hill and finally start forcing these people to obey the laws like everyone else has to.
TTFN
