to think that evicting hundreds of travellers from their site is unfair and immoral

[rocketty]

It's an illegal site. They didn't have planning permission. It's greenbelt...

but it used to be a car scrapyard (not rolling fields and thatched cottages then), they own the land and it's right next to a legal settlement.

They've obviously broken the law by settling here, but on balance, wouldn't it be more ethical to let them be? The children are settled at school and getting an education. Lots of people are prejudiced against gypsies and travellers but they've got to live somewhere.

I've seen the news articles about it. It makes me feel sad.

Romany Gypsies - a separate Indo-Aryan ethnic group, widespread throughout Europe and India. Speak Romany/Rom.

Roma - a sub group of Romany Gypsies. Now mostly referring to Central and Eastern European Roma. Also speak Romany/Rom.

Travellers - Irish semi nomadic people, originally referred to as tinkers. Speak Shelta.

Happy to be corrected if I am wrong. But that is my understanding of the difference.

It's nonsense to say that Travellers aren't an ethnic grouping or race. They have been around for hundreds of years.
Appleby is a fair for Travellers, Roma and Gypsies
The idea of Roma or Travellers being treated well is largely a myth.

My experience of Romany's is that they respect the area that they settle in.

When the traveller camp settled in my village, the two Romany families that had been living quietly and respectfully, moved on. The Matriarch of the family told me that she was moving because "It's a lovely village; but they'll ruin everything"
And Bye God. Didn't they just.

They have been there 10 years illegally.
The crime rate has gone through the roof in the local area.
The school has a very poor attendance record. So all the " our kids need education" bollocks is just that - bollocks.
They are stockpiling gas cylinders etc to the extent that the nurses and midwives in the area have been forbidden from going onto the site.
They have said they will use the children as human shields.
They persistently evade council tax, are paying no water rates etc.

Am I sorry the council are acting? What do you think?