Frodsham travellers' site latest

Jun 20 2008 by Rebecca Edwards, Chester Chronicle

‘We’ve got to make our voices heard’

RESIDENTS of Ship Street and neighbouring roads have reacted angrily to news their area could host a permanent Travellers site.

Frodsham town councillor Frank Pennington has started a petition against the idea and this week gathered concerned people outside Weaver Vale Primary School to give their views on the idea.

He said: "I now plan to speak to the landowners about what is planned.

"We have got one caravan site on Marsh Lane that has grown and grown and I am concerned this would happen here too.

"A petition is going in shops and businesses around Frodsham and I will pass this on to Vale Royal Borough Council.

They have got to know how strongly people feel about this."

Other residents aired their views.

Ann Keable, of Ship Street, said: "Has the council thought about the perception people will have of Frodsham as they drive down the M56 and see a camp there? At the moment it looks like a lovely place, people won’t want to come here if there is a big site next to the road."

Anita Ireland said: "We tried to calm the traffic down in this area but a site would cause mayhem.

"The problem with Frodsham is that this side of the A56 is classed as the deprived area, anything bad gets put on this side of the road."

Joanne Stubbs, of Ashton Drive, said: "If it happens I will take my children out of Weaver Vale Primary School."

A public meeting will take place at Weaver Vale Primary School next Wednesday, June 25, at 7pm for anyone who wants more information.

Duo aim to help others have say on proposal

BOROUGH councillors are gagged from giving their views on a proposed Travellers site – but they say it won’t stop them helping others make their voice heard.

If Vale Royal Borough Cllrs Brian Lloyd and Andrew Dawson express views for or against proposals to put a Travellers site in Ship Street, Frodsham in the forthcoming public consultation, they could be barred from future council votes on the issue.

But they say they will promote a full, transparent consultation and encourage residents to have their say.

Cllr Dawson explained this week: “I will promote and support the consultation process as it is important everyone’s view is taken into account.

“I cannot say whether I support or do not support the issue because if I do I might lose my chance to help make the decision.”

Cllr Brian Lloyd added: “I want to make it clear that I had nothing to do with this decision until now, the only time I heard about it was when I received the council papers last week.”

He added: “It is important for people to remember Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are ethnic minorities, this is an emotive issue and in today’s world you could end up in court for saying the wrong thing.”

‘Travellers have to live somewhere’

WITHOUT a permanent site for the travelling community, unlawful sites will always be an issue, says Shantele Janes of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Racial Equality Council.

She said: "If you have got unlawful encampments in the area people complain about it. The idea of having a permanent site for people is that they have a home there, they pay rent for that pitch, they send their children to school, they access health care and pay Council Tax like everyone else.

"Vale Royal has realised that if they are going to solve the problem of unlawful camps they have to have somewhere where Gypsies and Travellers can live and I applaud them for it."

Ms Janes added that people should not jump to stereotypes of a Travellers’ site being based in their area.

She said: "There is a negative perception but often it is based on second-hand information or stories in the media.

"There are issues and bad behaviour within every community, but we don’t tarnish everyone with the same brush.

"What people don’t realise is that Gypsies and Travellers don’t want bad elements living nearby either – they want people to be punished just as you or I would want someone in our community punished for criminal behaviour."