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Gipsies say they want to stay put

8:58am Thursday 8th May 2008

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MINETY gipsy Donna Stevens has broken her silence to speak out against her community's proposed move to Wootton Bassett.

In the first interview given on behalf of the 60-strong gipsy community, Donna says the gipsy families are sickened and saddened at the prospect of moving again.

"We aren't a herd of animals," she said.

"We won't be snatched from somewhere we have come to call home just to be shoved where we are not wanted, where we'll be loathed by neighbours and where our kids will be shouted at in the street."

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Tony Hillier, Old Walcot says...
9:04am Thu 8 May 08

a Request


Can the Advertiser please publish the criteria it uses to decide which articles it provides the facility for web-page readers to post comments ?

Thanks

Tony

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Grumpy, Swindon says...
9:17am Thu 8 May 08

Tony Hillier wrote:
a Request


Can the Advertiser please publish the criteria it uses to decide which articles it provides the facility for web-page readers to post comments ?

Thanks

Tony
Good idea Tony.

I thought you were dead as you haven't had any poetic moments lately!

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Open Eyed, Swindon says...
9:21am Thu 8 May 08

I would also be interested to know the answer to Tony's question

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angry monkey, Swindon says...
9:29am Thu 8 May 08

Yeah how dare people who pay taxes be upset at a bunch of gypsies who are nothing but a leach on society be upset

bloody pikeys.

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malkym, says...
9:49am Thu 8 May 08

Grumpy wrote:
Tony Hillier wrote: a Request Can the Advertiser please publish the criteria it uses to decide which articles it provides the facility for web-page readers to post comments ? Thanks Tony
Good idea Tony. I thought you were dead as you haven't had any poetic moments lately!
Me too Grumps thought it was RIP Tone too!- so Iv'e been posting a few instead - latest is on the Ridgeway head debacle - here tho' I suspect its stories that would be considered too easy to attract libellous posts or those that relate to on going court cases etc. - Be good to know know tho' eh?

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malkym, says...
9:51am Thu 8 May 08

Re this story - pikeys don't want to move - Bassett doesen't want them - leave status quo as is - QED

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:53am Thu 8 May 08

Tony is a presenter on 105.5 fm now. And a very good one at that. kept those politicians in check well the other night.

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
10:02am Thu 8 May 08

We can't comment on anything that is in court because of legal things we have been told this before.

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Frontier(s), says...
10:07am Thu 8 May 08

emmylou - there is no 'legal thing' to stop anyone commenting on a court case that has ended and where sentencing has happened.

Pretending we're not allowed to comment on it because of 'legal things' is pure fiction.

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Terence, Swindon says...
10:10am Thu 8 May 08

Why are the gypsies being moved anyway? I'd imagine their presence on the land is in some way illegal. If this is the case and they don't want to be moved from their 'home' perhaps they'd do well to consider making their home in a more legal manner.

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
10:14am Thu 8 May 08

Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou - there is no 'legal thing' to stop anyone commenting on a court case that has ended and where sentencing has happened. Pretending we're not allowed to comment on it because of 'legal things' is pure fiction.
thats why I said anything that is IN court not stuff that has finished that I don't know why dont you email the webteam and ask them

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Ed569, Malmesbury says...
10:17am Thu 8 May 08

Last time i went through Bassett it seemed to be full of pikeys anyway!

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steve-o, Swindon says...
10:25am Thu 8 May 08

Ed569 wrote:
Last time i went through Bassett it seemed to be full of pikeys anyway!
True.

Anyway there have been numerous pictures in national press and Western dialy press digging footing etc without planning applications.If that had been me i would have to pull it down. Why???

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Frontier(s), says...
10:32am Thu 8 May 08

Donna says the gipsy families are sickened and saddened at the prospect of moving again.


Now she knows how people feel when they're told gipsies are about to move in next to them.

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
10:33am Thu 8 May 08

Not all gipsies are bad people you know

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steve-o, Swindon says...
10:39am Thu 8 May 08

emmylou83 wrote:
Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Would you want them moving across the road from you mate?
Any way this camp is a spin off from Hay lane and i know several people fron both

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
10:44am Thu 8 May 08

steve-o wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Would you want them moving across the road from you mate? Any way this camp is a spin off from Hay lane and i know several people fron both
Well my Grandad was a gipsey he stopped travellig when he met my grandmother, they had 3 children and adopted 1, I never knew him as he died when I was 6months old but I'm proud to be his granddaughter from the stories I have heard about him, so no I wouldn't mind if they came to live by me.

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steve-o, Swindon says...
10:50am Thu 8 May 08

emmylou83 wrote:
steve-o wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Would you want them moving across the road from you mate? Any way this camp is a spin off from Hay lane and i know several people fron both
Well my Grandad was a gipsey he stopped travellig when he met my grandmother, they had 3 children and adopted 1, I never knew him as he died when I was 6months old but I'm proud to be his granddaughter from the stories I have heard about him, so no I wouldn't mind if they came to live by me.
Fair point Emma , like i said ini know several gypsies as there is alarge population in Wroughton where i lived for 16 years, and go out drinking in town on a regular base, and rightly too be proud of you flesh and blood, they can never take that awy from you mate

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Frontier(s), says...
10:56am Thu 8 May 08

emmylou83 wrote:
Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people?

That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort.

emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.

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steve-o, Swindon says...
10:58am Thu 8 May 08

Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people? That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort. emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.
Wow you got it in for Emma today aint ya

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:02am Thu 8 May 08

Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people? That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort. emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.
Majority of the comments on here have been negative against them so I'm just saying they aint all bad, even I have a dislike for some of them my view isn't rose tinted at all, but they are people just the same as me and you.

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:03am Thu 8 May 08

steve-o wrote:
Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people? That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort. emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.
Wow you got it in for Emma today aint ya
Its ok I'm about due for someone to challenge everything I say.

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Frontier(s), says...
11:08am Thu 8 May 08

steve-o wrote:
Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people? That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort. emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.
Wow you got it in for Emma today aint ya
No, not at all.

I'm just saying that nobody has said all gipsies are bad people.

As for any other points raised this morning, I cannot accept M Wills MP's appalling letter sending incident as being easily dismissed as a mistake that 'just happens'.

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Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:16am Thu 8 May 08

Can we please stop using Gipsy to describe, travellers. By the way even if they were gipsies, now they are not because they no longer live a nomadic life style. As I have said before, no self respecting Gipsy wants to take up permanent residence.

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angry monkey, Swindon says...
11:23am Thu 8 May 08

I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies

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Frontier(s), says...
11:25am Thu 8 May 08

angry monkey wrote:
I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies
Thankfully, we live in a democracy (of sorts, anyway) and so you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

Report this post »

steve-o, Swindon says...
11:25am Thu 8 May 08

emmylou83 wrote:
steve-o wrote:
Frontier(s) wrote:
emmylou83 wrote: Not all gipsies are bad people you know
Where has anyone said that they're all bad people? That's right, nobody has said anything of the sort. emmylou, you have to remember that just because your grandad was a gipsie and you wouldn't mind them moving in next to you it doesn't mean others share your rose-tinted view.
Wow you got it in for Emma today aint ya
Its ok I'm about due for someone to challenge everything I say.
Well i know your more than caple of giving what you get Emma Jane,give hell babe

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emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:27am Thu 8 May 08

As I have said before, no self respecting Gipsy wants to take up permanent residence.


So my granddad had no self respect RFM (no i haven't taken your commetn as a personal attack) but as my granddad did set down roots and get a proper job and the rest of it I find your comment a little disturbing

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steve-o, Swindon says...
11:28am Thu 8 May 08

Frontier(s) wrote:
angry monkey wrote: I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies
Thankfully, we live in a democracy (of sorts, anyway) and so you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.
You said it one so stop jumping down peoples throats and throwing your toys ot of the pram

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steve-o, Swindon says...
11:29am Thu 8 May 08

angry monkey wrote:
I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies
Bleeding hell thank christ everyone aint got your opion

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steve-o, Swindon says...
11:39am Thu 8 May 08

Anyway frontier(s), angry monkey, gotta go in a minute collect some scrap and look at some lead,stereo typing please you.
RFM what exactly is a self respecting gypsie, sounds abit derogatary!

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Frontier(s), says...
11:45am Thu 8 May 08

steve-o wrote:
Frontier(s) wrote:
angry monkey wrote: I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies
Thankfully, we live in a democracy (of sorts, anyway) and so you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.
You said it one so stop jumping down peoples throats and throwing your toys ot of the pram
You know when you read things Steve, do you ever try and work out what they actually mean?

I was actually supporting angry monkey's right to hold whatever view he wants to.

But don't let that get in the way of you thinking I was 'jumping down his throat' and 'throwing my toys out of the pram'.

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Terence, Swindon says...
11:55am Thu 8 May 08

RFM - whilst agreeing with the distinction between travellers and Romany gypsies, the latter comprising a rather distinct ethnic group, I would question your belief that a gypsy is only one which continues to lead a nomadic lifestyle. The vast majority of gypsies all over Europe now have a sedentary lifestyle and still retain their strong Romany gypsy identity, with no loss of self-respect.

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me here, somewhere says...
12:00pm Thu 8 May 08

As I think Robert is trying to hint at, are these travellers, gypsies or people who want to integrate more into society? The photo looks as though their accommodation is permanent and they have said that they want to stay, so is it because the land they are on does not have planning permission to host a site, is it because the people in Minety are bigger snobs than those in Wootton Bassett that they are being pushed on? I expect that I will have to wait until the newspaper plops through my letterbox this evening to read all the facts. It's a difficult one really, as the gypsy life style is not really one that can thrive in the 21st Century as we don't have such a need for repair jobs,hawkers, horse dealing,seasonal farm work, which I presume was the main reason for moving around. I think these gypsies should be proud of their roots and heritage and I can't see what is wrong with wanting to live with your fellow types. The gypsies have been persecuted in this country since 1530, they are not accepted by society as they live on the fringes of society. I wish people would be more tolerant of people who wish to be a little different to the rest of society, who are trying to settle their children into schools and get jobs so that maybe eventually they won't have to live as itinerants.

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Terence, Swindon says...
12:09pm Thu 8 May 08

From reading an old BBC story (dated 2005) I understand they own the land but built without planning permission, then submitted a legal retrospective planning proposal which was denied.

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me here, somewhere says...
12:11pm Thu 8 May 08

Thank you.

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me here, somewhere says...
12:16pm Thu 8 May 08

According to yourrights.org 90% of planning applications submitted by gypsies/travellers are refused.

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WTF?, Swindon says...
12:28pm Thu 8 May 08

I thought the whole point of calling yourself a gypsy was because you were 'one who travelled for work'?

I guess this is why the title of this story is non pc and not using their new age official name of 'travellers'. Would rather make them look ironic wouldn't it.

'Travellers Say They Want To Stay Put'

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StFc, Swindon says...
12:59pm Thu 8 May 08

I agree, not all pikeys are bad. Only the scum bags who steal your kids toys out of your garden, deficate where they please, leave their rubbish where it falls, intimidate the elderly are bad.
Who ever feels sorry for these low lifes should have them live close to them for a few days. You will change your mind.

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NPB, Swindon says...
2:04pm Thu 8 May 08

To read the full story buy today's Adver


Or just read it on the todays news listings as of 1:45pm

Even the adver conceding that it wasn't the best sales pitch in the world...

http://www.swindonad
vertiser.co.uk/news/
swindonnewsheadlines
/display.var.2254733
.0.gipsies_say_they_
dont_want_to_move.ph
p

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steve-o, Swindon says...
2:12pm Thu 8 May 08

Frontier(s) wrote:
steve-o wrote:
Frontier(s) wrote:
angry monkey wrote: I'd just like to say I hate all gypsies / travellers / pikies
Thankfully, we live in a democracy (of sorts, anyway) and so you are perfectly entitled to your opinion.
You said it one so stop jumping down peoples throats and throwing your toys ot of the pram
You know when you read things Steve, do you ever try and work out what they actually mean? I was actually supporting angry monkey's right to hold whatever view he wants to. But don't let that get in the way of you thinking I was 'jumping down his throat' and 'throwing my toys out of the pram'.
Iknow thats what you meant and iwas making a comment that angry monkeks view was over the top , my right yeh???

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steve-o, Swindon says...
2:19pm Thu 8 May 08

And i did'nt mean jumping down his throat it was everbody else

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dalekdave, Swindon says...
5:47pm Thu 8 May 08

Having read the full article in the Adver paper, I have to say that this group appear to deserve better than they are getting. Their spokesperson explains that they prefer to live in static caravans rather than be on the open road and that they are registered for council tax, income tax, NI etc. Their kids are at local schools and are friends with the local kids and they seem to be accepted by much of the community in which they find themselves.

This seems to be a very different group of people to those who turn up on private or public land and cause a mess before moving on and doing the same thing elsewhere.

Their crime appears to be setting up home without planning permission first.

The spokesperson calls for the group to be treated as humans rather than travellers or gypsies and this seems a good starting point.

There is a good deal of sweeping generalisations made regarding travellers or gypsies on these forums as there are of other social groupings. The truth of course, like for all groups of people, is that there are good bad and indifferent in any community. I guess that will be the same for this group of people.

I wish them and the residents of wherever they end up well in forging their community and I for one hope it can be achieved with the minimum amount of upset to anyone.

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Oxford, Toothill says...
8:53pm Thu 8 May 08

There is no one sillier,
than Tony Hiller.
And for those of you who said,
That you thought he was dead.
He's alive,
And his going to survive.
And for that money,
He's very funny.

Tony hillier poems live forever.

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sashstaff, Swindon says...
9:46pm Thu 8 May 08

Am I missing something?? Isn't the whole point of being a gipsy that you don't want to settle, but move around? Otherwise, why do we call them travellers?

If they want to stay put, what is stopping renting a house, of course it is expensive, but it is for everyone.
When they stop acting like a rampaging herd of animals, then maybe they won't be treated like one.

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Decks, swindon says...
10:53pm Thu 8 May 08

I think that some peoples opinions on here are very racist and they should be ashamed. For 1 why do the gypsies want to settle now ? I agree with me here, there lives and jobs are changing so they don’t have the need to travel fulltime now but as I understand the gypsies still travel as well as having there settled homes. I think its good that they are trying to educate there children but at the same time keeping there traditions. I think no matter where there is a gypsies site there is going to problems because of the comments and opinions from small minded people ...StFc,you say they steal....I am not going to dispute that some of them most probably do but in our village I have had several things stolen and they are by my neighbours who are not gypsies but thugs that want my money for there drug habits and as I understand our prisons are full and I am sure that the prison cells are not all full with gypsies so you may want to look a little closer to home .These people seem to just want to live there way of lives on there own land, not in houses and it doesn’t have to be expensive to get a house as we can see from the young mums and single parents in our society that have houses and god knows what else from the government . At the end of the day what would you prefer...have them on there own land which they brought and paid for or have them stopping on your local park....Lets face it where ever they are the people with narrow minds are never going to be happy so it seems to me they are in a no win situation so I say why waste money and build something they have all ready provided their selves and use the money for other areas that need the money …e.g. schools and hospitals and policing department . One things for sure these group of gypsies don’t seem to be wanting to scrounge of the government.

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Web Team, Swindon says...
8:53am Fri 9 May 08

Hi Tony,

We activate comments on all stories where possible, but we are dictated to by the law in some cases. For instance, if it is a report of a court case, activating comments may lead to the trial being prejudiced, so we can't do that. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Web Team

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Comments are closed on this article.

Miley Patrick, six, at the Minety gipsy site Miley Patrick, six, at Minety gipsy camp

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