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Travellers turn beauty spot into 'no-go' area
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| NO-GO AREA: Parish councillor Nick Gore in the lane near Affpuddle close to the travellers' site |
TRAVELLERS have turned a picturesque spot into a 'no-go' area, claim nearby residents.
A community of caravans and lorries near Sares Wood, between Briantspuddle and Affpuddle, has caused locals and tourists to avoid the area.
Residents have criticised Dorset County Council for not doing enough to help them.
Nick Gore, who is an Affpuddle and Turners Puddle Parish Council member, said: "There's about 70-odd vehicles up there with quite a lot of people.
"They are covering both sides of the byway and have been there for some considerable time.
"It's an area that is well used by the equestrian community and dog walkers and tourists.
"But people avoid the area like the plague now - it's a no-go area."
Parish council chairman Charles Barter added: "Everybody is up in arms and feel that the council really aren't doing enough to move them on or find another site.
"We feel everything goes in slow motion. Some of the dogs there aren't being kept under control. People are very concerned.
"People avoid it and it is a beautiful area."
Mike Evans, spokesman for Dorset County Council, said the current travellers had been trespassing on the highway for about seven months.
He said: "We are moving towards an eviction now as there doesn't seem a way of negotiating them off. But land either side is owned privately and by the Forestry Commission.
"The eviction will be a joint eviction by the three of us."
Mr Evans said other legal complications had caused a delay.
He said: "It is important we recognise the needs of the travellers.
"Our policy is to tolerate for a little while if we can.
"I have told the parish council that we are working towards the holidays in the summer. But these things are never certain."
Mr Evans added that council efforts to find specific sites for travellers was ongoing.
10:11am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Westie, West Dorset on 11:16am Fri 9 May 08
Mike Evans, spokesman for Dorset County Council, said the current travellers had been trespassing on the highway for about seven months.
My guess is that these people are NOT travellers, but could be classed as Parasites, if they were travellers how come they are always able to claim their benifits.
If they have been trespassing on the highway for the past 7 months why was nothing done before ?? What happens to the waste they produce whilst occupying various areas.... always left to the Local Authorities to clean at OUR expense. There are ALWAYS legal complications which cause delay. Why ? if they are trespassing plain and simple, no complication there.
Mike Evans, spokesman for Dorset County Council, said the current travellers had been trespassing on the highway for about seven months.
My guess is that these people are NOT travellers, but could be classed as Parasites, if they were travellers how come they are always able to claim their benifits.
If they have been trespassing on the highway for the past 7 months why was nothing done before ?? What happens to the waste they produce whilst occupying various areas.... always left to the Local Authorities to clean at OUR expense. There are ALWAYS legal complications which cause delay. Why ? if they are trespassing plain and simple, no complication there.
Posted by: Bladen, Puddletown on 11:16am Fri 9 May 08
To be clear. People avoid this area because there are dogs not under control. No doubt to deter people from passing along this byeway. I cycled through here a few weeks ago and was bitten a traveller's dog. It was bad enough that I had to visit hospital and receive 2 jabs and a course of antibiotics. The incident was reported but nothing has happened. Why should we 'tolerate' this?
To be clear. People avoid this area because there are dogs not under control. No doubt to deter people from passing along this byeway. I cycled through here a few weeks ago and was bitten a traveller's dog. It was bad enough that I had to visit hospital and receive 2 jabs and a course of antibiotics. The incident was reported but nothing has happened. Why should we 'tolerate' this?
Posted by: Mike, Portland on 12:46pm Fri 9 May 08
The truth of the matter is that these[bold] scum[/bold] have more rights than tax paying law abiding decent people.
The truth of the matter is that these
scum have more rights than tax paying law abiding decent people.
Posted by: Jimbo, Weymouth on 1:13pm Fri 9 May 08
Mike is right, these free-loaders trespass on peoples private property, mess up areas of coutryside, and then when they move on the mess has to be cleared up by the landowner. Dorset County Council always sides with the travellers yet it is us that pay tax not the travellers!
Mike is right, these free-loaders trespass on peoples private property, mess up areas of coutryside, and then when they move on the mess has to be cleared up by the landowner. Dorset County Council always sides with the travellers yet it is us that pay tax not the travellers!
Posted by: Wessex Lass, Dorchester on 3:57pm Fri 9 May 08
My husband and son cycled that way last Monday. One of the travellers dogs tried to bite my husband but fortunately only got hold of his trouser leg and shredded that. He would have said something about the incident but there were three male travellers there who laughed at the incident and he felt intimidated. When he reported it the Police they did not want to know. If I had a dog that attempted to bite someone I am sure I would be front line news in the Echo.
My husband and son cycled that way last Monday. One of the travellers dogs tried to bite my husband but fortunately only got hold of his trouser leg and shredded that. He would have said something about the incident but there were three male travellers there who laughed at the incident and he felt intimidated. When he reported it the Police they did not want to know. If I had a dog that attempted to bite someone I am sure I would be front line news in the Echo.
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 11:57am Sat 10 May 08
Have the police checked all the vehicles for current tax and insurance or does 'elfnsafty' stop them from going there. Perhaps these people have all filled in the appropriate VOR forms. Even if the land is currently privately owned, one assumes that the vehicles move off it onto public highways from time to time in search of food and plunder or to go and collect their 'allowances'.
Have the police checked all the vehicles for current tax and insurance or does 'elfnsafty' stop them from going there. Perhaps these people have all filled in the appropriate VOR forms. Even if the land is currently privately owned, one assumes that the vehicles move off it onto public highways from time to time in search of food and plunder or to go and collect their 'allowances'.
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