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£2m expansion for gipsy site
Saturday 19th January 2008, 2:27PM GMT.
Taxpayers will be asked to help foot the bill for a £2million expansion to a gipsy site in Tipton.
Sandwell Council is spending £500,000 on the development, which includes providing new bathrooms and kitchens.
And it wants an extra £1.5million from the Government to extend the park.
But the move has been attacked by critics who claim the plot no longer houses the borough’s established gipsy families and the cash could be better spent on other needy families.
Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said there was a demand for permanent accommodation for gipsies and travellers waiting for plots which is why the site is set to be extended on to nearby derelict land.
Read the full story in the Express & StarTaxpayers will be asked to help foot the bill for a £2million expansion to a gipsy site in Tipton.
Sandwell Council is spending £500,000 on the development, which includes providing new bathrooms and kitchens.
And it wants an extra £1.5million from the Government to extend the park.
But the move has been attacked by critics who claim the plot no longer houses the borough’s established gipsy families and the cash could be better spent on other needy families.
Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said there was a demand for permanent accommodation for gipsies and travellers waiting for plots which is why the site is set to be extended on to nearby derelict land.The stop-off site in Brierley Lane, which has been in existence for more than 30 years, is currently considered to be ‘too outdated’.
The plans Sandwell Council will submit to Government suggest improvements to access roads, upgrading the hard standing for caravans, introducing new boundary fencing, landscape improvements and upgrading toilet and washing facilities.
Opposition Councillor, Bill Archer said the money could be put to better use.
He said: “This is really just a permanent caravan site and £2 million is a lot to invest.”
By Sally Walmsley
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So the honest working population get shafted nearly everyday and the scumbags who trash areas and avoid tax get more handouts.
Wake up britian.
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is this a sick joke? Just look at what the “travellers” have done to wolverhampton?
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How about spending the money on the majority of people, always minorities.
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If this goes ahead just wait for the infux of gypsies from all over Europe to cash in on the weakness of the local politicians by allowing it in the first case. The area will eventually become saturated by gypsies looking for an easy base. Will we never learn?
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Just gets better and better. Nothing surprises me anymore. These ‘people’ have their own law – never get taxed, arrested for criminal damage, tipping, causing public nuisance to where they put their caravans, get away with pathetic driveways, no fines for not sending kids to school, it just goes on and on. Yet the goverment will just hand our money over to them, to scared as usual.
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Wotcha.
Move ‘em into ” The Public” . . . at least it will be serving some kind of useful function.
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Although it really doesnt sit well with me this level of expense on people, who unfortunately, make absolutely no contribution to society in terms of taxes, I am trying to look at the other side – perhaps if these sites are of a decent standard more of the travelling families we see all over the West Midlands and the problems they bring / leave behind will be ‘encouraged’ to go to these sites / perhaps even be made to. If that was the case I wouldnt feel so aggrieved about it. In sandwell, how many people who pay their taxes are waiting for such money to be spent on their housing?
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I kinda agree with Gareth….to answer the housing question its about half a billion!! being currently spent on modernisation of Council housing in Sandwell and thats a part of a five year program which ends – i think in 2011
just had my house done as part of the modernisation program – and now i have a complete new kitchen, roof, windows, wiring,heating, flooring, and because i have a mobility problem they dropped in a new fitted shower – the service was brillant – the workers really friendly and professional – thank you Sandwell Council (never thought id hear myself saying that!!!)
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oh deary me……(im disabled and my husband is a cancer patient)… had my house done too…..what a cock up! problems too many to put down here and ended up having to make builders pay for new cooker… (no kitchen for 2 months). no thank you from me sandwell council…
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I am in no way defending the gypsies on this site.
This site is a permanant site not really for the passing trade so to speak.
Sandwell homes are doing a decent homes programme which basicaly will improve all of Sandwell Councils properties by 2010 thia work may be under the decent homes programme as the site belongs to Sandwell council.
I see Phil post 8 points out the same thing
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I live quite near to this site and am amazed that they want to spend this amount of money on this site. The people there do not take any pride in the site whatsoever so why should we the rate-payer pay for this site to be updated. no way should any money be spent on this.
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I think everyone deserves a decent standard of living, but also think that if so much money is gonna be spent on the site, the travellers should also have to work and pay tax. From what I’ve seen of travellers caravans and cars they seem to have plenty of money coming their way already!!!!
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Improving the site in Sandwell would encourage the occupants to take more pride in the area they live. Evidence of which has been demonstrated in the decent homes programme which is currently being delivered by Councils/almo’s.
I can think of many sections of society who do not contribute financially to the state, however everyone has the right to a decent home. Whether that be a house or a caravan site.
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