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Open and transparent local government

Toad | 30.07.2009 10:05 | Anti-racism | Culture | Social Struggles | World

Traveller and member of public refused entry to council meeting on gypsies and travellers at county hall Devon.

On the 29.07.09 the new conservative led county council had its first council meeting regarding the nomadic members of its community.A local traveller active in the area requested to observe the process,after checking with council officers and council procedures that this was allowed.When asked the first question "Is he dangerous?"by the incoming political chair, the council officer that conveyed the original request had to answer no.The second question was "Do we have to let him in"?Once again the answer was no.The first question we have is this?Why not?The second question we have is?If the incoming council,after such a piss poor mandate,is so bullish towards some of the most vulnerable and distrusting members of their community,what does the future hold for any of us?By the way,they are not rhetorical questions

Toad
- e-mail: toadhall@fsmail.net

Comments

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travellers v councils

30.07.2009 12:27

The Berrys who bought the land after the so called then government urged travellers and nomadic types to buy there own land faced countless harrassment.
please see  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldjudgmt/jd030522/wrex-1.htm

even after michael berry had won his case against wrexham council, i was told by him and his wife they was not allowed to go to the local councillors public meetings near by and in there ward,i was informed that one person that does go has a lot of influnce in certain areas of the ward.

To this day they still are not allowed to go to the meetings within there own ward.

while wrexham does have a traveller liason officer dept, seen to be doing. the option i would suggest is to all go and lots of you and stand and ask why,if i was close by i would go and really ask why.

Davey

devils advocate

31.07.2009 09:51

Maybe it's that a group that has divorced itself from the community that the coucil encompases, wants to have a say in the way that that comunity runs it's affairs.

If they wish to live in the village then they should live in that community, good times and bad, not just when they feel like it.

it's like a stranger telling me what to put in my freezer. I uphold my right to tell these uninvolved people to F###Off, and if they dont like the way my comunity does business then they can F###Off to where they do like it.



anon