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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder why people moan but are unwilling to do something about it.

55 replies

wonderingwhy2 · 13/07/2017 23:42

Travelers have once again set up camp on a prominent (illegal) spot in my town.
Once again the locals are moaning about it.
Once again, I wonder why, instead of moaning, they don't take their caravans and camper vans and tents and camp alongside the travellers?

The police wouldn't be able to fine the locals, because they can't have one rule for one and one rule for others. Right?

OP posts:

marymarytoocontrary · 13/07/2017 23:44

Why would they want to camp next to them? I don't think you've thought that one through.

BenLui · 13/07/2017 23:44

Because that's a fairly inflammatory move which is likely to escalate the conflict?

It's also likely to be pretty ineffective in persuading the travellers to move on.

FluffyPineapple · 13/07/2017 23:47

Uh?? Why do you think local residents should involve themselves? Sorry I'm not getting your point?

WorraLiberty · 13/07/2017 23:48

So you think the locals should add to the problem?

We have illegally settled travellers here yet-a-bloody-gain, churning up the graveyard at the end of the local nature reserve.

Last month, they were churning up the football pitch in the local park and preventing the schools from holding their football matches there.

I'd lose my shit if the locals joined in with the damage.

elevenclips · 13/07/2017 23:48

Op your post is bizarre.
Travellers are in an illegal spot. People are pissed. Surely all that's needed is to notify police? Why would you camp in the same illegal spot

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 13/07/2017 23:49

No, it wouldn't be inflamatory.

I would like to know why, if I park in that spot I would

a) be clamped
b) be fined (which I have been in the past)
c) Why can't people who actually live in the town pitch their tents, park their caravans there for free?

We are not talking about a designated site for travellers, which I agree they should have.
This is unlawfully planting themselves where they like, with a complete disregard for the laws that apply to the rest of us.

OP posts:

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 13/07/2017 23:51

Op your post is bizarre.
Travellers are in an illegal spot. People are pissed. Surely all that's needed is to notify police?

You are very naieve.
This happens every year.
The travellers are usually there for well over a week, before eventually being moved on.
They know how to play the system.

and it always coincides with the summer. Funny that.

OP posts:

SlothMama · 13/07/2017 23:52

I wouldn't want to cause further agro by parking there, I'd wait until they left and then do a locals camping party!

Fluffyears · 13/07/2017 23:53

If you live in the same area as me it's a massive camp and brings a helluva lot of issues. Are you talking about an area in Renfrewshire?

OverTheHammer · 13/07/2017 23:55

How is camping next to them going to encourage them to piss off?

WorraLiberty · 13/07/2017 23:56

There's no point in issuing fines to people who aren't going to pay them, and will just move on to another part of the country.

It would cost more to chase them up than it would to clean up after them and repair the damage.

If you want to pitch a tent alongside them, go for it.

Do come back and tell us how it went...

Gingernaut · 13/07/2017 23:58

This happens every year and yet many landowners make no attempt to secure their land.

I've seen ditches dug, bollards put up, great berms put as walls around the land by private landowners but many local councils don't bother.

It must be cheaper to invest in solid security rather than keep paying for waste disposal and legal fees.

But no. Once again, schools, nature reserves and even a cemetery have been invaded.

The local council can't get a court date until 19th July.

Useless.

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 13/07/2017 23:59

I wouldn't want to cause further agro by parking there, I'd wait until they left and then do a locals camping party!

It makes me angry that they've hiked the car parking fees for local residents. I can no longer afford to park in this area. Yet, the travelers get to park there for FREE.

You have to admit that something isn't right about that.

OP posts:

Fluffyears · 14/07/2017 00:01

They appeared in our village some time ago and some locals 'did something' they went and spoke with them. They assured them they were just passing through, that was April/may. Now they back but are a few miles away but it's a pretty huge amount.

OverTheHammer · 14/07/2017 00:01

This pisses me right off. Where we live the council have slapped big ugly concrete blocks across the (once nice) grassed areas to keep them off the land. I can't understand why the law isn't tougher on them.

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 14/07/2017 00:01

^If you want to pitch a tent alongside them, go for it.
Do come back and tell us how it went...^

Why wouldn't it go well?
They're law abiding people.

OP posts:

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 14/07/2017 00:03

I wouldn't want to see conflict.

I'm purely interested from this viewpoint.

If I were to take my caravan and park it up.
Would I get a fine?
If yes, why fine me and not them?

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 14/07/2017 00:12

This pisses me right off. Where we live the council have slapped big ugly concrete blocks across the (once nice) grassed areas to keep them off the land.

Same here but they still tend to find a way in, especially to the nature reserves.

There are legal sites they can use, but they're not very popular on the whole.

WorraLiberty · 14/07/2017 00:14

I'm guessing they would fine you and not them, because you have a fixed address.

As I said earlier, there is no point in fining people who can't be found.

Although having said that, do you know for certain none of them are getting fined?

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 14/07/2017 00:18

So basically, not having a fixed address is a good way of getting around not having to follow laws that the rest of us have to follow.
So they get to flout the law.
They use roads, hospitals and schools, which are all paid for in taxes.
Do they pay tax?

I need to leave this thread. The whole thing makes me angry.

OP posts:

SuperLoveFuzz · 14/07/2017 00:20

OP, you're moaning about it and you haven't set up camp beside them. Surely you can answer your own question 'why' then?

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 14/07/2017 00:22

If you live in the same area as me it's a massive camp and brings a helluva lot of issues. Are you talking about an area in Renfrewshire?

Fluffyears, no.
They like to come to my town for their annual free summer holiday.

OP posts:

Original poster

wonderingwhy2 · 14/07/2017 00:25

I have neither a tent nor a caravan.

Their caravans and campers look really expensive. I'm sure they could afford to go to a proper campsite and pay pitch fees.
Why don't they?

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 14/07/2017 00:30

If I were to take my caravan and park it up.
Would I get a fine?
If yes, why fine me and not them?

I have neither a tent nor a caravan.

Huh?

Look, I get the anger about all the damage they do and how expensive it is for our skint local councils to have to deal with, when vital services are being cut, while our council tax is being raised.

But your angst is weird.

You seem more concerned that they can camp for free and you can't, despite the fact you've admitted you nave neither a tent nor a caravan

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 14/07/2017 00:31

I'm still not getting why you think camping alongside them would be beneficial/more beneficial than moaning?!?!

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