Testun llawn:
As a resident of Hatton Park, in addition to the comments already made by many others, I would like to voice my own concerns about the proposal to use the Oaklands Farm as the place for the development of a new traveller site comprising 5 pitches:
1) Safety :
a. If used as a site for travellers, one can only expect the frequency of people driving into and out of Oaklands Farm to increase dramatically. This has to be seen as an increased risk of potential accidents, and we cannot ignore the fact that there have been already 2 fatal incidents on Birmingham Road in the last few years.
b. Oaklands Farm lies below the level of Birmingham Road, and its conspicuousness is exacerbated by the lack of thick bushes or hedgerows around the area. A traveller's site with its daily activity would undoubtedly attract the attention of drivers passing by and could lead to an increase in the number of distractions, and possibly accidents.
c. The presence of travellers should not necessary be linked to a higher crime rate, but a higher probability for crime in the area may be triggered by having temporary neighbours with perhaps a different understanding about property and personal possession. A greater police presence in the community would undoubtedly be necessary. We cannot forget that the Hatton Park community has grown in the last years to include up to 800 families, made up of hard working people who in the most part have to leave their homes unattended during the day. I do not think it is necessary to point out that the amount of council tax generated by the Hatton Park community ought to help pay towards safeguarding our homes and our belongings.
2) Environment :
a. The nearby canal is today a well maintained and clean attraction both for its neighbours, visitors as well as various families of birds who have chosen this place as their breeding ground. The current state of the canal cannot be jeopardised, and it would be crucial to enforce controls ensuring that waste produced by the travellers is not disposed of into the canal or the surrounding area.
b. Due to the difference in ground level between Oaklands Farm and Birmingham Road, the site is often flooded after periods of heavy rain and would undoubtedly create a very difficult and potentially dangerous environment for any families living there in caravans. I remember seeing the land several times under 2 - 5 inches of water.
3) Cohabitation and Image:
a. Due to the origins of the travellers, there will certainly be different cultural influences defining their day to day activities, and the way in which special events are celebrated. Differences between what the travellers and the current community consider acceptable with regards to timetables, noise levels and general behaviour could lead to unnecessary friction and unpleasantness on both sides. I do not think it is unreasonable to foresee that the unavoidable increased noise levels would have a massive negative impact on the families living nearby.
b. The cultural differences of the travellers may even extend to their perception of order and cleanliness. Due to the very visible location of Oaklands Farm, any mess on the site will be highly visible from Birmingham Road and from the canal. This is something that the neighbours should not have to tolerate.
c. Any image loss in this area would directly impact Hatton Park and its surroundings, turning it from a highly desirable and sought-after location into a second or third-rate option. Who will take responsibility for a potential devaluation of all the homes in the area, and how would a new traveller site on Oaklands Farm impact the house prices of the new homes that are planned to be built nearby?
In summary, I would suggest that the maximum priority has to be finding a place where these families can settle in the right conditions:
a) In a safe location, away from a busy road with lots of traffic and potential hazards.
b) In a more secluded and private location, out of the eye of onlookers and passing drivers.
c) In a more sheltered location, protecting the families and their caravans from heavy rain and flooding.
d) In a place with a proper drainage system for rain and black water and safe electricity infrastructure.
e) In a location where the schools are not already fully occupied and where the children would be genuinely welcomed into the community.
f) In a place where the families could fully enjoy their own lifestyle and celebrations without disturbing neighbours and risking being misunderstood.
I hope that I have been able to bring some fresh ideas to the debate.