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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Traveller sites spark controversy | Traveller sites spark controversy |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Controversy has been sparked by the news that three new traveller sites are to be set up in a County Armagh town by the Housing Executive. | |
| Craigavon residents claim streets are already a health hazard because of poor sanitary and waste-disposal facilities for the Traveller community. | Craigavon residents claim streets are already a health hazard because of poor sanitary and waste-disposal facilities for the Traveller community. |
| Craigavon Borough Council said it has not been properly notified by the Housing Executive. | |
| The council has warned that rate-payers may have to pick up the bill. | The council has warned that rate-payers may have to pick up the bill. |
| 'Horrendous' | |
| Councillor Robert Smith said local people were not being told about developments. | Councillor Robert Smith said local people were not being told about developments. |
| "We don't want to prevent anybody coming to Craigavon, but it raises the other issue of councils having to maintain sites which will cost a horrendous amount of money," he said. | "We don't want to prevent anybody coming to Craigavon, but it raises the other issue of councils having to maintain sites which will cost a horrendous amount of money," he said. |
| "This will then be passed on to the rate-payer." | "This will then be passed on to the rate-payer." |
| Derek Hanway of the Travellers' organisation, An Munia Towber, said the size of the Traveller community in Craigavon "meant the plan was reasonable". | |
| "There are three sites in Belfast where there are a similar number of Travellers and there needs to be a similar number of sites for Travellers in Craigavon," he said. | |
| "It can be done right, but we need local politicians and the Housing Executive to work together. | |
| "We need to say where the site should go and make sure it's done in a way that's going to make everybody happy." |