Travellers are forced to move on (From Stroud News and Journal)

Travellers are forced to move on

TRAVELLERS who have been living at the Coaley Peak beauty spot for more than a year were due to be evicted by baliffs yesterday.

Gloucestershire County Council applied for an eviction warrant after a long battle involving residents, parish councils and courts.

The fight began in June when the council started reclamation proceedings.

Two weeks ago it won, but failed to get an injunction banning three travellers from council property.

This week it asked the court to remove the group.

As the news broke that the travellers were to be moved on some local residents breathed a sigh of relief.

Nympsfield parish council chairman Rose Westwood said: "It's about time. That land belongs to county people. "It's our rates that pay for it.

"The travellers are intimidating and walkers have to go along a dangerous road to get past them. "This is long overdue."

But both sides passionately defended their beliefs yesterday.

Travellers claim they have chosen a harmless lifestyle with a low environmental impact, while others argue they are scaring people away from the countryside.

Site member Stewart Bishop, who lives with his girlfriend Teresa Sprason and four children, said: "We have a low impact lifestyle.We don't rape and pillage the countryside by digging it up for water and electricity like other people do."

Teresa added: "The council is wasting its money by making us move. "If they didn't, we wouldn't cost them anything except for education."

Stewart's mother Donna Ind, visiting from Dursley, said: "I would prefer my grandchildren to live somewhere like this than on a housing estate."

Teresa agreed. "Everyone here is friendly and I would trust all of them with my children. "Kids who grow up on sites are always trusting because they come from a safe environment."

The the travellers knew that they would have to move on sometime and yesterday they were busy preparing to leave.

Some however had hoped they might be allowed to stay until after Christmas.

Colin Hay, the county councillor responsible for travellers, said the group had been long aware that the council wanted its site back and would have to go.

He said: "We have been tolerant in the way we have dealt with this. "We accept they want to have a travelling lifestyle but we want this site for the public and visitors to use.

"They have had plenty of time to move on."

For the latest on other local issues, see this week's SNJ.