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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ignore neighbour's letter through my door....

57 replies

HarryandLouLou · 07/08/2013 12:34

.....that asks all local residents to object to minor travellers site planning application?

I know gypsies and travellers often get bad press, but I had a look at the planning application on the council website and it's for 2 caravans, 1 static and 1 to be lived in. Whoever applied must own the land as its a request for the land to be used as a place of residence.

The neighbour (who I'm not sure of their identity) is claiming that should this proceed it will "blight our homes and reduce sale prices" etc etc.

From a birds eye view, our street and cul de sac will be their nearest neighbours, but there is no access between the site and our homes.

Aibu or naive?

OP posts:

nennypops · 07/08/2013 12:36

YANBU. Live and let live, I say. The application wouldn't be refused on the grounds your neighbour suggests anyway.

Nagoo · 07/08/2013 12:36

Ignore. Wait until you are in my situation, I get letters from MPs responding to my objections to planning applications for travellers sites in my Dad's village

eurochick · 07/08/2013 12:37

Ignore it if you want to, but I do think you are being a little naive. There was a site near where we used to live. When the travellers moved on, the site was a mess - full of rubbish, builders rubble and all sorts. I'm afraid that based on that experience I would get a bit NIMBY about this.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 07/08/2013 12:37

YANBU neighbour sounds hysterical.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 07/08/2013 12:38

I would ignore any letter from someone who wasn't prepared to sign it tbh.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 07/08/2013 12:39

Euro you can't tar an entire community with one brush. In our village we've long had travellers in and out...they slot in well....some of them send their DC to the school and some don't. They go to the local pub and support local charities just like permanent residents. They come...go and come back again.

Reality · 07/08/2013 12:39

I would be concerned, because in my experience two caravans will actually be more like fifteen.

We used to live in a street that backed on to a fairground yard, and when they were in residence they weren't the nicest of neighbours to have. The actual 'Name of Fair' family were lovely, their kids went to school with us for a few months out of the year and we knew them pretty well, but the community of travellers that came with them were antisocial, loud, messy and on occasion violent. And the fuckers used to steal milk off doorsteps and washing off lines.

WorraLiberty · 07/08/2013 12:40

2 caravans wont blight your homes

If it grows over time then yes, it probably will.

I'd just ignore it.

SirChenjin · 07/08/2013 12:44

I would object - but then I wouldn't want to look out onto 2 static homes, regardless of who lived in them. Our local council turned down a planning app for something similar recently fortunately.

Original poster

HarryandLouLou · 07/08/2013 12:47

I always assumed the land in this area belongs to the local farms. Our road has no direct access, and is at least a 5 minute drive away.

The letter is somewhat hysterical and alarming. There is no clue to whom it is from.

OP posts:

Original poster

HarryandLouLou · 07/08/2013 12:49

None of the houses overlook this area, as the ground is higher and has mature trees, a cycle path and main road between them.

OP posts:

LazyFaire · 07/08/2013 12:53

I would probably send in a support letter to counter it. I really dislike they way some people get on their high horse about travellers.

If as you say it actually has no bearing on your street, they can't even see it, they are unlikely to get anywhere with the objection and are basically just being racist.

Live and let live.

Birdsgottafly · 07/08/2013 12:54

It isn't the issue about them being travelers, but another two (more if the static is temporary housing) families living in the available space, with the additional parking of cars etc, that would be the issue for me.

It depends on how close the plot of land is, they do traditionally have dogs, so there is a potential for the noise levels to rise.

Many on MN would object to their next door neighbors building a house in their back garden, or parking a motor home/caravan on the front drive, for the same reasons.

quesadilla · 07/08/2013 12:54

Based on what they have specified in the application I wouldn't care. I grant there is a risk of "mission creep" where travellers are concerned and you could end up with 10 or more but then you may not.

Do you know what "travellers" actually means in this context? In my experience it can encompass everything from actual gypsies to Irish travellers to New Age crusties to deep ecology types. All of which are likely to come with different philosophies and lifestyles.

My personal approach is live and let live. Until someone proves themself to be an antisocial menace I work on the basis that they are not. I don't believe you can go through life objecting to a group of people based on what type of dwelling they choose.

But maybe I am naive.

Birdsgottafly · 07/08/2013 12:54

X post with the layout explained.

somewhereaclockisticking · 07/08/2013 12:55

If you don't mind then don't object. If you think that there is a possibility it will grow to more than 2 caravans and that this might cause you a problem - then object. I wouldn't even think about the neighbour's wishes but at least they have brought it to your attention and you can now make your choice.

SirChenjin · 07/08/2013 12:55

Depends if you believe there will only ever be 2 statics, or if you think the site might grow or if they might have visitors in their caravans throughout the year. If the land belongs to the farmer then you need to be clear that he/she is not planning to extend the planning app at some stage (or maybe not, if it doesn't really bother you)

angelos02 · 07/08/2013 12:57

You are very naïve OP.

gollygosh123 · 07/08/2013 13:01

Lol lets see what you say in a year or so.

When you experience the reality of living near traveller sites, you'll learn.

Tailtwister · 07/08/2013 13:03

I would look into the details very carefully. I don't know if the approval for 2 caravans initially would make it easier to get approval for a much bigger site? It seems strange to me that the application is so small and I would be concerned it was being done to create a 'gateway' for a much larger application.

Planning seems to be a very complicated area and I would always look into an application very carefully if it was going to affect my property, no matter if it were for travellers of not. Just because there's no access between the site and your home now doesn't mean one couldn't be created. The fact is that a large site probably would adversely affect the value of your property.

gollygosh123 · 07/08/2013 13:03

And if you think that just because planning is for two then it will only be two, you are extremely naive and i say this as a traveller

stickingattwo · 07/08/2013 13:04

I would ignore it - people get so hysterical over travellers.

rockybalboa · 07/08/2013 13:06

I'd probably share your neighbours concerns tbh but there's no need to get your knickers in a twist about the letter. No-one can force you to object and if you don't want to then don't. It's a bit like posting saying "AIBU to ignore the pizza leaflet which came through my door and not order a pizza".

conantg · 07/08/2013 13:06

Without commenting on the behaviour, good or bad, of the travelling community, I would bet a large sum on the two homes becoming ten or twenty within a year or two. Local authorities do not resist such expansions as it takes the onus off the authority to provide a site.

NoComet · 07/08/2013 13:09

YANBU
One of DDs best friends was a traveler, who did part of the year at her school. She was absolutely lovely.

Our 'settled' caravan' dweller is so little trouble I signed her petition to get left in peace.

After 10 years plus of being no trouble they seem to have money/permission to build a house.

Conversely the travellers who took over the town playing fields and the new age travellers that descended on the Welsh moors were a total menace.

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