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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Row erupts over Gypsy development | Row erupts over Gypsy development |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A council is considering what action to take over a development set up by Gypsies in Warwickshire. | A council is considering what action to take over a development set up by Gypsies in Warwickshire. |
| The county council said 16 Gypsy families moved on to land they own on Friday, and set up water and electrical supplies, a septic tank and paving. | |
| Stratford-on-Avon District Council said the site at Darlingscott, near Shipston-on-Stour, was "unlawful". | Stratford-on-Avon District Council said the site at Darlingscott, near Shipston-on-Stour, was "unlawful". |
| But Zack Follows, from the site, said the arrivals were all taxpayers and the Gypsy community had "nowhere to go". | But Zack Follows, from the site, said the arrivals were all taxpayers and the Gypsy community had "nowhere to go". |
| The site is near the house of David Mills, the estranged husband of Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell. | The site is near the house of David Mills, the estranged husband of Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell. |
| We cannot keep on being pushed from pillar to post Zack Follows | We cannot keep on being pushed from pillar to post Zack Follows |
| Stratford-on-Avon District Council said, as the enforcement agency responsible for planning and environmental health issues, it was "considering what appropriate action to take with regards to this unlawful development". | Stratford-on-Avon District Council said, as the enforcement agency responsible for planning and environmental health issues, it was "considering what appropriate action to take with regards to this unlawful development". |
| Warwickshire County Council is backing the district council, and said the site was "designated as agricultural land" and would require planning approval for such development. | Warwickshire County Council is backing the district council, and said the site was "designated as agricultural land" and would require planning approval for such development. |
| Tory county councillor Chris Saint, who represents the area, said on Monday: "We view it with alarm because I have no information about a planning application even being lodged, let alone granted, and I would be the first to know." | Tory county councillor Chris Saint, who represents the area, said on Monday: "We view it with alarm because I have no information about a planning application even being lodged, let alone granted, and I would be the first to know." |
| Asked whether he thought the Gypsies targeted the bank holiday weekend as no-one would be working at the council's offices, Mr Saint said: "We don't know that for certain. | Asked whether he thought the Gypsies targeted the bank holiday weekend as no-one would be working at the council's offices, Mr Saint said: "We don't know that for certain. |
| "But the speculation is that they have done this because there is a four-day window when officialdom is unlikely to get to them." | "But the speculation is that they have done this because there is a four-day window when officialdom is unlikely to get to them." |
| 'Legitimate businesses' | 'Legitimate businesses' |
| Mr Follows, 31, said 16 plots had been sold for about £20,000 each. | Mr Follows, 31, said 16 plots had been sold for about £20,000 each. |
| "The council is supposed to be supplying sites for the Gypsy community but no sites are being provided and there is nowhere for the community to go," he said. | "The council is supposed to be supplying sites for the Gypsy community but no sites are being provided and there is nowhere for the community to go," he said. |
| "We have got piles of papers from how many times we have been refused sites. | "We have got piles of papers from how many times we have been refused sites. |
| "At the end of the day, we cannot keep on being pushed from pillar to post. | "At the end of the day, we cannot keep on being pushed from pillar to post. |
| "One hundred per cent of the people here are taxpayers who have legitimate businesses." | "One hundred per cent of the people here are taxpayers who have legitimate businesses." |