Peter and Angie Haimes were puzzled by the noise of construction work in a nearby field which kept them awake during the night. Then they discovered that the noise generated by heavy equipment, lorries carrying rubble, road laying, and earth being moved for a septic tank in a field by a road just outside Pensilva, were the first signs of a move by English Romany gypsies to establish a new base in South East Cornwall. Said St Ive parish council chairman Mr Haimes, who lives almost opposite the site where construction work and caravans suddenly appeared: 'I'll say this for those who are behind it, the way in which they organised themselves would show some of our major builders how to do it. 'They worked throughout the night of Friday into Saturday, then late into Saturday, with a few hours break before they started up again early on Sunday.' The Haimes' nearest neighbour Terri Crone, whose land adjoins the field where two caravans are now parked, says she views the situation with an open mind.

Phone calls She had a problem from previous temporary caravan dwellers on the site who burned tree debris and old vehicle bodies there. However when she asked them to stop because of the effect the smoke might have on her sheep and horses, they did. Having received many phone calls from local residents over the mystery of just what was going on, Mr Haimes took the matter up with Caradon District Council planners. As a result he discovered: n The field in question has been owned by Romany gypsies since 1970 n Two families, concerned at the lack of space set aside for them in Cornwall, are behind the plan to create a new campsite n They have moved onto their land from a site on the other side of Pensilva, which at present is the only place providing accommodation for them in the Caradon area n An application has now been made to Caradon council for retrospective planning permission for the development n The applicants want spaces for three mobile homes, three travelling caravans, and a day room. Maggie Smith-Bendell of the English Romany Gypsy Council, which is based near Bridgwater, champions the cause of her fellow travellers. This week she came to Cornwall to meet Caradon planning officers with regard to the future of the field owned by the gypsies. She says Cornwall has a considerable Romany population, yet local authorities in the county have done little to help them with regard to the provision of sites. She says the Romany families in question have lived in the Pensilva area for many years. They want to establish three mobile homes in the field, space for three caravans on the site so they can continue with their travelling tradition, and establish a place where they can carry out daily tasks such as getting the washing done. She makes it clear that the Romany people should in no way be confused with the type of travellers who cause friction wherever they go, and leave piles of rubbish behind them. 'They have a history in this country which dates back 2,000, have their own Romany language, and are always anxious to blend in with the local community,' she says. Chris Montagu, Caradon's senior planning officer (environment) confirmed the retrospective planning permission for development on the site was now being submitted. He said there were government guidelines regarding sites for travellers. Mr Montagu said he thought the plans would be ready to go before a Caradon council planning committee in December.