60 Days with the Gypsies

[NatashaBedwouldbenice]

Channel 4. I was surprised to read that this is the first such programme with, I believe a, gypsy producer. I thought it was a very good documentary.

Just watching this now, he certainly isn't painting a good picture.
I feel very sorry for the elderly woman (Pearl's aunt), I can't imagine how she washes/toilets in portaloos or leisure centres.
About 15 years ago on the outskirts of my town a permanent static site was built for the Traveller population. It was a disaster, the site wasn't equipped to deal with the intended number, there was a lot of anti-social behaviour, and the locals didn't want it in their backyard. I worked professionally with a few families, they were nice enough to me but had horrendous issues with alcohol/drug abuse, DV and child safeguarding issues. The life expectancy then for a male Traveller was around 50 😞

Wow 50 that's a shockingly low age.

But how do the women manage with periods if they don't use their caravan bathrooms? Where do they shower? I don't understand at all

It was interesting what the newspaper printed, the exaggerated story

I didn't understand the bit about Cheyenne. Why wasn't she allowed there if no one was living in that spot? Why wasn't the toilet/shower block open?
There were other people living there - is it just that they get one shower block each or something? How does it work?

It hasn't changed my opinion.

@purpleme12

It was interesting what the newspaper printed, the exaggerated story

I didn't understand the bit about Cheyenne. Why wasn't she allowed there if no one was living in that spot? Why wasn't the toilet/shower block open?
There were other people living there - is it just that they get one shower block each or something? How does it work?

It didn't make sense, surely if she was on her own with the 2 kids the others on the site would be helping her.

I wanted it to change my view. But he didn't address the elephant in the room of their habit of leaving crap and destruction in their wake. When travellers camped on our local field, the council provided a skip in the centre of the field. When they left, they left behind a burnt out shell of a caravan, human excrement in the bushes and grass and rubbish everywhere. It was a mess, and was unusable by local people until cleared up. Despite the skip in the middle of the field.

@Theflying19 Absolutely, that's the issue they need to solve if they want common ground to use. It's all very well moving from place to place and leaving the actual shit for the council to clean up.

When travellers stayed illegally on a field near my friend's house, they left behind them not only faeces and litter but a dead whippet

@Pemba

Oh I see Needcoffee, sorry!

Yes I agree about not going to the toilet in the caravan (and priding themselves on how clean the caravans are inside) but seemingly being oblivious to how the settled population might feel about dealing with their waste (including poo!) when they've moved on. I supposed it's because they HAVE moved on that they stop thinking about it. It's just a different mindset. But why can't they see they are leaving problems for others, and their lack of consideration (around noise too) causes the settled population to resent them?

But then Ed showed how difficult it was to take rubbish to a tip with no permit etc. I also don't think people should be criminalised for being nomadic. Humans have been nomadic for thousands of years after all.

I don't know what the answer is... More understanding on both sides I suppose, but how?

Being nomadic isn't the problem though. If I bought a caravan and travelled the UK and Europe, pulling into established campsites I wouldn't have issues. I'm not a gypsy so I don't have their reputation and wouldn't be anti social. It's the anti social behaviours and lack of education that are the problem. They are responsible for a lot of crime and cowboy dealings- if you don't have an education it limits what you can do to earn money.

I watches some YouTube clubs of travellers in the 1960/70s and the issues are still the same!!

If people are going to be nomadic, they need to have self sustaining solutions that work and don't impose burdens on settled people. Toilets in caravans, and sustainable solutions for getting rid of waste. Homeschooling done by travelers themselves, OR ensuring that their kids are up to a similar academic standard to others and can therefore participate in settled kids' schools without using up huge amounts of educational support resources. Having proper paid arrangements with councils where they pay for refuse treatment/collection, recycling, and other dues.

I am sure some travellers do do all the above, but it's clear that some don't.

@sleepyhoglet

I watches some YouTube clubs of travellers in the 1960/70s and the issues are still the same!!

I remember from being a child in the 70s the issues were the same, we'd frequently have problems with them on school playing fields (which then became unusable for a large period of time) and we often wouldn't be allowed out because they'd push you off your bikes and steal them.

I wonder what the numbers are now compared to then?

I think if the travellers picked up after themselves and kept a low profile most people wouldn't mind.

My step brother has lived with a traveller girl for 8 years. They are now mainly living in houses.

About 3 years back we had some move onto our local field.

A couple of examples of how they upset the locals....
The kids were trying to fight the local kids on the park
Usual rubbish left
Human poo in carrier bags all over the field
Fires
Broke the gate and padlock on the fences
Music until late
The kids stole from the local shop
Some men stole a charity collection box
Fights in the local pubs

Obviously it all of that can be proven to be down to them.

Reviving this thread as have a traveller site near me which is causing a lot of upset. They move here every year and camp out for months causing really appalling issues. The council and police don’t care and are apparently ‘consulting their solicitors’ . They are aggressive and make a huge mess and health hazard. I’m put off walking there ( it’s a nature spot). I just do t understand why their vehicles aren’t impounded . The council say ‘ they have rights’.

Strange thread to revive as the thread is about a Tele programme