Workmen refuse to fix potholes in case travellers riot
Discussion
Another step closer to total anachy. Plod seem scared of the 'em.
Daily Telegraph
Workmen have refused to mend a road littered with potholes because they fear a hostile response by travellers camping illegally at Crays Hill, Essex.
Residents living close to the site near Billericay said their once peaceful road had been turned into a crater filled track since the 1,000-strong camp was formed.
However, police and council workers have ruled out fixing the pothole-ridden road because they are worried about sparking a riot from travellers who could think they are about to be evicted if workmen turn-up.
The decision has been branded "appalling" by local residents and even the travellers say work to fix the road urgently needs to be done.
Essex County Council wants to resurface the road but will only send workmen with a police escort incase the workers prompted a hostile response from travellers. Essex Police has turned down requests, saying it may cause problems by creating fears in travellers that they are about to be evicted.
MP John Baron wrote to Basildon Police Chief Inspector Simon Dobson asking for a police escort for road workers but was told before any work was done experts would need to consider 'traveller engagement'.
He said before any potholes were filled they would need to create a network of people to negotiate with the travellers, send a clear and consistent message and hold an open meeting so travellers could ask any questions about the works.
Chief Inspector Dobson added that the issue "required a clear communication strategy to minimise the risk of any false perception by the local travellers that the works are a pre-cursor to any enforced eviction."
Pam Cummins, a parish councillor, said: "Talk about tip-toeing around people. When they fixed the road outside my house they didn't come and ask me first."
David McPherson-Davis, a parish councillor, said: "The road is almost impassable for an ordinary vehicle. Residents complain on a daily basis."
About a thousand travellers are thought to live in the village of Crays Hill making it Europe's biggest illegal camp. The camp has been a long-running source of friction for almost a decade with claims of anti-social behaviour, death threats and HGVs making deliveries of furniture to the site.
It is estimated to have cost Basildon Council more than £700,000 in legal costs to try and get the illegally camped families evicted. The travellers have vowed to build a "tent city" on land nearby if they are evicted.
PC Nigel Scott said leaflets are going to be given out at the local school which has predominately travellers children as pupils to explain the work is to be carried out.
He said: "If they think there is an eviction there will not just be people from Dale Farm (Crays Hill site) but half the site in Cambridge and half the people from Wolverhampton turning up.
"It could all turn very weary very quickly".
Even the travellers think the process to fill in a few potholes is long-winded. Gratton Puxon, a spokesman for the families, said: "I think I speak for everyone when I say the police are not needed.
"People at Dale Farm want the road fixed as much as residents. It should be done without the need for this rigmarole."
Daily Telegraph
Workmen have refused to mend a road littered with potholes because they fear a hostile response by travellers camping illegally at Crays Hill, Essex.
Residents living close to the site near Billericay said their once peaceful road had been turned into a crater filled track since the 1,000-strong camp was formed.
However, police and council workers have ruled out fixing the pothole-ridden road because they are worried about sparking a riot from travellers who could think they are about to be evicted if workmen turn-up.
The decision has been branded "appalling" by local residents and even the travellers say work to fix the road urgently needs to be done.
Essex County Council wants to resurface the road but will only send workmen with a police escort incase the workers prompted a hostile response from travellers. Essex Police has turned down requests, saying it may cause problems by creating fears in travellers that they are about to be evicted.
MP John Baron wrote to Basildon Police Chief Inspector Simon Dobson asking for a police escort for road workers but was told before any work was done experts would need to consider 'traveller engagement'.
He said before any potholes were filled they would need to create a network of people to negotiate with the travellers, send a clear and consistent message and hold an open meeting so travellers could ask any questions about the works.
Chief Inspector Dobson added that the issue "required a clear communication strategy to minimise the risk of any false perception by the local travellers that the works are a pre-cursor to any enforced eviction."
Pam Cummins, a parish councillor, said: "Talk about tip-toeing around people. When they fixed the road outside my house they didn't come and ask me first."
David McPherson-Davis, a parish councillor, said: "The road is almost impassable for an ordinary vehicle. Residents complain on a daily basis."
About a thousand travellers are thought to live in the village of Crays Hill making it Europe's biggest illegal camp. The camp has been a long-running source of friction for almost a decade with claims of anti-social behaviour, death threats and HGVs making deliveries of furniture to the site.
It is estimated to have cost Basildon Council more than £700,000 in legal costs to try and get the illegally camped families evicted. The travellers have vowed to build a "tent city" on land nearby if they are evicted.
PC Nigel Scott said leaflets are going to be given out at the local school which has predominately travellers children as pupils to explain the work is to be carried out.
He said: "If they think there is an eviction there will not just be people from Dale Farm (Crays Hill site) but half the site in Cambridge and half the people from Wolverhampton turning up.
"It could all turn very weary very quickly".
Even the travellers think the process to fill in a few potholes is long-winded. Gratton Puxon, a spokesman for the families, said: "I think I speak for everyone when I say the police are not needed.
"People at Dale Farm want the road fixed as much as residents. It should be done without the need for this rigmarole."
Saddle bum said:
PC Nigel Scott said leaflets are going to be given out at the local school which has predominately travellers children as pupils to explain the work is to be carried out.
How does that work then, they're not paying any taxes but get to send their kids to a (presumably state?) school? 
youngsyr said:
Saddle bum said:
PC Nigel Scott said leaflets are going to be given out at the local school which has predominately travellers children as pupils to explain the work is to be carried out.
How does that work then, they're not paying any taxes but get to send their kids to a (presumably state?) school? andy400 said:
youngsyr said:
How does that work then, they're not paying any taxes but get to send their kids to a (presumably state?) school?
Where have you been? Par for the course in the UK these days. Contribute the least, get the most.thinfourth2 said:
Jonny_ said:
Yep, that's where the politically-correct touchy-feely "inclusion and diversity" approach has got us. Now we have 1000-strong gangs of roaming tax evaders who think (not inaccurately) that they're above the law.
FFS.
Oh thats racist to say that FFS.
King Herald said:
thinfourth2 said:
Jonny_ said:
Yep, that's where the politically-correct touchy-feely "inclusion and diversity" approach has got us. Now we have 1000-strong gangs of roaming tax evaders who think (not inaccurately) that they're above the law.
FFS.
Oh thats racist to say that FFS.
Funk Odyssey said:
gtikurt said:
If the BNP were in power, we wouldn't have this problem....
why?tell us exactly how they will change this?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ita...
The real reason they are scared is not the horrible pikeys in the field it's the fact that they would be asked to finish the job within one working day instead of the usual two or three. By being able to do the job quickly in one day will show them up as the lazy workshy jobworths we all know they are and they will be required to do their other jobs in the same efficient and money saving manner as that, without overtime or double pay for having to finish it on a weekend.
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