Testun llawn:
I was sorry to learn yesterday that an area very close to my house is being considered for a permanent gypsy/traveller settlement. I have read the previous documentation available from the council about the settlements and the settlement on Stratford Road was not short-listed. I have also been on your website today and there is no information available about the site. I wonder why as residents that are obviously going to be hugely affected by the site (and pay council tax) that we have not been given any information about this. In fact, the local residents association was forced to hand out flyers to tell residents when this clearly is not their job.
I have the following concerns about the site: Chase Meadow is currently a safe and prosperous little community in Warwick. A traveller site across the road will make the area far more unsafe which will be of detriment to the local businesses that are currently flourishing. Also, house prices on the estate will plummet which will discourage the investment being shown in the area currently thus having an impact on local jobs.
I understand that the council has to find sites for travellers and you have to respect their way of life. However, when travellers illegally parked on Tapping Way (visible from my house) in April the travller community made it very clear that they did not respect the estate or the lifestyles of the people that (legally) lived there. As a resident I had to put up with the following aspects of anti-social behaviour:
1. Parking caravans in an area not designated for caravans in a street with other residents.
2. Parking caravans on the pavement stopping pedestrians having a safe place to walk.
3. Parking caravans on the road obstructing traffic and making it difficult for people to park at their own homes.
4. Drinking and making noise late at night (after midnight on Saturday).
5. Groups of men hanging around the road late at night making aggressive gestures to residents of Chase Meadow.
6. Extensive littering of the road which was a health hazard.
At the time myself and the other residents of this road were afraid to go out of our own homes. Children living on the road were forced to stay inside unable to enjoy the holidays as the road was unsafe. The gypsies also parked near Aylesbury school and I am concerned about the safety of schoolchildren when the site is constructed.
My husband and I spent our life savings last year after living in an unsafe area of Birmingham as we wanted to live in a safe community and raise a family. I feel that we have been duped into buying into this area as there was no available information about the site when we moved in (December 2013). If this plan goes ahead then we want to put up flyers at the 3 developments near us to warn off potential buyers so that they are not fooled as we have been.
I would like to make a formal complaint about the site if it goes ahead and I was wondering what financial compensation we can be expected to receive as we are likely to lose tens of thousands of pounds on our property.
I am sorry for the long email but I thought it only proper that the council is fully aware of the feeling of the local residents towards this plan.