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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell the travellers...

380 replies

Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:17

By my parents house to please fuck off?

Story is, my parents and their neighbours all clubbed together to buy a lovely piece of land that their terrace of houses over looks. None of them are rich and it was a large buy for them all but they all keep is beautifully and it is a lovely view for them all to enjoy, it's only a small patch of land, not what one could consider to be a field even. i think they have (had) plans to make it a play area for all the local children, or a sports field or something similar.

4 weeks ago, overnight, a few caravans appeared. Of course the residents went to speak to them to say it was private land (which they already knew as there are huge "private" signs all round it and they actually smashed down a large section of the fencing to drive their caravans in.) But the travellers refused to budge. They were very matter of fact and reasonably polite about the fact that they would not be moving and they knew the residents couldnt do anything to make them move right away. Lovely.

Now, whilst I fully appreciate anyone's right to live how they want, surely it should not be at the expense of others. It must be wonderful to live such a free life, moving from place to place if that is what you choose, but how can you not expect to pay? Caravans sites cost say £25 a night, they should be paying to stay in one, or buy their own land and live there.

The field is now horrendous. More and more caravans have been moved in, I'd say there's no about 20. There are huge piles of broken up crates, broken buggies, televisions etc and massive piles of general hosehold rubbish and food waste in black bags that have been split open by foxes I presume all round the edge of the land. It's starting to look like a landfill site!

I don't have the full details but basically the residents have been told nothing can be done to get rid of them right away, it will take time through the courts. Then they will be moved on. That's all that will happen. Now If I parked my car somewhere illegal it would be clamped, towed and I'd have a hefty fine - why doesn't the same apply?

AIBU?

OP posts:
Meglet · 30/08/2010 11:18

I thought that after 7 days the courts could make people move on? Or is that just for council land?

splashy · 30/08/2010 11:21

They should be forced to move on. Is there really nothing that can be done?

violethill · 30/08/2010 11:21

YANBU Starbuck

The system is shit, and punishes law abiding people more than the people who are sticking two fingers up at them.

There should be a rapid, inexpensive way to deal with this.

mayorquimby · 30/08/2010 11:21

No yanbu, similar things have happened in Ireland with people simply ruining land that is not theirs and trespassing on other peoples property but hiding behind a claim of cultural discrimination if anyone questions their actions.

deakell · 30/08/2010 11:22

YANBU but it may be quite foolish to do so and quite frankly, I would be concerned for my safety.

Zondra · 30/08/2010 11:22

Yanbu.
I would be fuming if this was my parent's situation.

Not sure what, if anything can be done but, I hope this situation is resolved quickly for your parents.

Jasonthunderpants · 30/08/2010 11:23

mayorquimby
your name sounds familiar,is it from a tv programme or film?

booyhoo · 30/08/2010 11:23

this is a really awful situation. i am not sure of the law in england but in northern ireland it is a nightmare to get travellers off your property.

my aunt works for a local business centre hiring out the units. as such she is a key holder for the main gate. one night sh egot a phonecall from a neighbour of teh park saying that 3 caravans were at the gate with people trying to get it opened. she went round. the travellers asked her to open the gate. she said no way. they set up camp infront of the gate and demanded £5K to leave.

mindtheagegap · 30/08/2010 11:25

Guess you could say they're saving the state money by not claiming housing benefit Smile. The problem is that there are not enough traveller sites and travellers have a right to pursue their lifestyle..I sympathise with your parents though - sounds grim.

Malificence · 30/08/2010 11:25

I thought that travellers could be forced to move on within 48 hours now?
Not that it will stop them destroying the land in the meantime.

They have at the very least caused criminal damage by smashing their way in?

What an awful situation, why don't these selfish people realise that if they looked after the areas they visit, people wouldn't have a problem with them. It's the fact that they turn fields into rubbish tips that makes people so angry - when they invaded our village and tore up the sports field , they were made to move on very quickly by the Council thankfully.

I have every sympathy.

Original poster
Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:29

Violethill - Yes, a rapid inexpensive way is what is needed. I can't see why the authorities can't ask them to move, if they refuse then the vehicles (caravans and cars) get towed and they have to pay to get them back. That's what happens to everyone else who parks illegally, why do they get special treatment.

Deakell - None of us would actually go over there now, there are 20 caravans full of people, lots of men and I do realise it would be very silly to now go and approach them.

Booyhoo - See now if they wanted somewhere to put their caravan they could pay like evryone else and use a caravan site - but what they did to your aunt was terrible. They know she can't run her business unless they move, and can't force them to be moved so she is held to ransom. Bloody disgusting.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 30/08/2010 11:30

They get away with it because the law is an arse. Your folks should contact their MP, start recording all this and look into sueing a government or authority which allows people to do this.

expatinscotland · 30/08/2010 11:31

In Scotland, squatting is illegal in all forms, so they don't get as much of this crap.

Original poster
Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:32

Mindtheagegap

Surely you are kidding? They are not saving the state money, if they were living in houses then why wouldn't they have jobs, therefore paying their own rent, not getting housing benefits. Hmm

What do you mean "there are not enough traveller sites?" The one in question is now a traveller site and it's bloody being ruined in front of the owners eyes. That is one too many. If they choose to persue a lifestyle like that then they need to provide their own land to park their carvans on or pay to travel round and stay on landowners property who let spaces to caravans.

OP posts:
Original poster
Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:34

Oh and mindthegap they have a right to persue their lifestyle? Nobody has a right to persue any lifestyle is they a. cannot fund it themselves and b. cause others misery and financial loss by doing so!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 30/08/2010 11:34

Also, don't turn the field into a play area. It's a hassle.

Make it into allotments. Quieter, less hassle, and possibly a money spinner.

deakell · 30/08/2010 11:35

Well good luck starbuck.
I hope the law pulls it's finger out and deals with this sooner rather than later.

My SIL has a similar problem where she lives (although not on land she owns and not directly opposite her house) and it has taken ages!

Original poster
Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:36

It's not going to be anything anytime soon. i bet the cost of clearing up after this lot is going to be HUGe it's awful already god knows what else they are going to do to it. You'd think people would want to keep their living space clean and tidy.

Also - there are loads of kids over there too - don't they have to go to school?

OP posts:
booyhoo · 30/08/2010 11:37

sorry but surely the rubbish and mess they leave is costing the tax payers money to clear up.? i don't buy that argument that they are saving the state money.

expatinscotland · 30/08/2010 11:39

They do tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage at the HA-run site around here.

And so they're not saving the state money.

expatinscotland · 30/08/2010 11:40

They don't send their kids to school, Starbuck.

There's a site right near my kids' school and another privately-owned one in the same catchment, but no traveller children at all in that school.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 30/08/2010 11:41

even if they bought their own land likelihood is they would be refused permission to live on it. happens time after time - its no guarantee of security for travellers, the planners very rarely allow them to live on their own land so why shell out for it?

and it would of course help if councils would collect the rubbish from places where travellers have parked - they don't usually unless its an authorised site which are getting fewer under the new govt.

sorry no caps am bf.

Original poster
Starbuck999 · 30/08/2010 11:41

Of course they're not. Otherwise I could sit here saying I'm entitled to vandalise peoples property and make residents lives a misery because I have a child and I work full time, so surely I'm saving the state money as I don't claim benefits. What a load of tosh!

Expat - What is a HA-run site?

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 30/08/2010 11:42

and no, they don't have to go to school, many traveller kids are home educated.

booyhoo · 30/08/2010 11:43

queen if the travellers paid council tax then they should get their rubbish lifted but they don't. they are already getting the free use of the land, why should they get the rubbish collected for free aswell? everyone else pays for it.