HOW dare Michael Howard use gypsies and travellers as pawns in his election campaign! Besides this, his claim that the law allows travellers to contravene planning laws is total rubbish. Any rights we did have in the Caravan Act have been taken away in the last 15 years with the C.J.A., new planning law, ASBOs and even terrorism laws. We don't have any lawful protection. If we happen not to get evicted for a bit it's always because the 'powers that be' recognise that there is no point, they'll only be moving the problem elsewhere, not solving anything. There are not nearly enough 'council sites' and there are long waiting lists. And if we buy our own land we will never be granted planning permission. Our lives have been criminalised, but we have no choice over this. So what's the real solution? More evictions, more criminalising of our way of life, less stability for our children? Or providing places that are legal, suitable and pleasant for travellers to live. If councils fulfilled their housing obligations for travellers there would not be a problem. We need more rights, not less, Mr Howard.
ROSE A 'new' traveller from Cornwall