6:00pm Saturday 3rd May 2008
By Hayley Court
RESIDENTS in Wootton Bassett have stepped up their campaign against the proposed permanent gipsy camp at Lindisfarne.
Hundreds of people turned out at the Woodshaw Inn on Thursday to add their names to a planning consultation list.
Resident Jon Spillane said: "The meeting was due to start at 7.30pm but by 7.15pm the Woodshaw was so packed we had to ferry people into the meeting room in batches.
"It really was an impressive turn-out which shows the strength of feeling against this application."
Lindisfarne resident Chris Howe chaired the meeting, which was so packed it had to be split into three separate sessions.
During each session, visitors were invited to add their names to the growing district council consultation list - meaning they could be consulted during the six-week process on the gipsy camp proposals, which begins on Friday.
The plans came to light last week when North Wiltshire District Council held a meeting regarding potential sites for traveller camps in Wootton Bassett, Calne and Chippenham.
The council has been given £250,000 by the Government to develop a site with 28 pitches.
The residents argued that an offer for them to buy the site three years ago was withdrawn when great crested newts were found living there and that the current plans should be thrown out for the same reasons.
Chris, 34, was quick to point out that the meeting would not continue if it descended into an attack on the travellers who would inhabit the site.
The 60-strong community has lived in Minety for five years, gaining planning permission to build toilet blocks, shower blocks and brick walls.
Chris said: "We will not tolerate any attack against the gipsies. I want to make it clear early on in this meeting that we are here because we are opposed to any development on the Lindisfarne site.
"As far as we are concerned the site is not accessible by anything larger than a person walking their dog.
"It is right beside a 60mph road and any development would be overlooked by houses twice its size.
"With children potentially growing up on this site the dangers are obvious."
The residents are urging campaigners to write or email North Wiltshire District Council with objections as soon as possible.
Objections must identify planning or environmental reasons why the site must not be allowed to go ahead.
Any objections which state that gipsy families are not welcome in Wootton Bassett will not be considered.
For more information about the proposal email the Lindisfarne residents action group on woodshaw08@ googlemail.com.
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