His first question exposed us completely: 'Do you know anything about traveler issues?', obviously very little. So he gave us some background: in 1968 a law was passed that local councils have to provide land for traveler sites. Most of them did not. Those that did only provided for small settlements of 6-12 Caravans. Those who did not fit had to leave! In 1994 the Tory government decided that no more sites were to be build. Having to adjust with the new reality many travelers, bought land, brought electricity and water, and build sewage systems to serve their needs. Around 2002-3 a campaign was spearheaded by Terry Brownbill, to drive some of the people living in the Cottenham site out.
'But you see the story starts much earlier, in Germany. There was a man called Hitler' Patrick continues. 'He persecuted Jewish people and Gypsies. Jewish people have managed to be accepted in society, while we are still persecuted'. An exaggeration? Hardly! Reading Brownbill's website:
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Patrick is quite passionate about uncovering the hypocrisy: 'People say that we have swarmed public services, schools and doctors, but there are only very few of us'. He contrast the small traveler community with the planned 29 600 new homes that are planned to be build in the nearby village of Oakington. He is cynical: 'Complaining about us gives local politicians easy votes, they are just out there to be elected they don't care', the populist and racist rhetoric clearly still works. Although the community has been the focus of attention of the media, he does not have much hope into them. 'What they wanted to know when they came to talk to me here was not our problems or opinions, but what is the cost of my TV.'
Court cases are due to be decided in the following months, and it is likely that some members of the community will be under threat of eviction. What does this means? The police will close down all access to the site at 6am in the morning and a group of bailiffs will go in. They will escort the families to the county border. Their homes, or other structures on the grounds, will be demolished. Fair? Now close your eyes and imagine it is your family...
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