Joan Ryan
Points of View
Travellers:
As readers will know, we have a problem locally with travellers buying land and then speedily and illegally developing it. No-one is looking to discriminate against a minority but it is only right that all those who live in a community should abide by its laws.
Having recently met with the Prime Minister to discuss this situation, Blair's eventual response was disappointing. For although the Government is now giving Councils a power to stop any development for 28 days, thereafter the normal planning laws kick in and these have proved completely inadequate in the past - for they cannot stop determined groups from undertaking unauthorised development of land they own.
This is why I introduced early last year in parliament my Greenbelt Protection Bill which gave Councils much stronger powers to tackle this problem early on before traveller encampments become established. The Bill would also have reversed a bad decision taken in 1994 and required all councils to make provision for authorised sites so that travellers had somewhere to live and for which Councils could charge an honest rent for services received.
The Bill was the product of an extensive consultation and had the support of the Conservative party and some Labour backbenchers - but unfortunately the Government blocked it.
When I first became the MP I refused to blame the Labour-controlled Basildon Council about this situation because the planning laws were clearly at fault. However, it is also now clear n that the Government is at fault as it refuses to introduce the radical reform which is much needed.
Until the laws are strengthened, the sort of conflict we have seen recently between local and traveller communities will continue - and people will suffer as a result.
Meanwhile, all we can do to ensure fair play is to chip away at any injustices. We have therefore, for example, got water meters moved closer to houses so that travellers can no longer tap into water pipes and expect local residents to pay, and pressed the authorities to ensure any illegal activities at traveller encampments are detected and acted upon.
We are also asking the traveller community to make donations for having disrupted the Fun Walk this year.
Meanwhile, Basildon Council is preparing to move on from Oak Road a large number of traveller families in May 2005 following John Prescott's decision to extend their stay by two years.
However, all this could be avoided if the laws were strengthened and authorised sites provided - for everyone would know where they stood and there would be fairness for all.
