Letters to the Editors
Travellers'Site -The Meeting
Dear Editors,
We would like to say thank-you via the Swaffham Crier to all those people who organised the community meeting in the village hall on Tuesday 13th July. As we know, this was very short notice, which makes it even more of a tremendous effort on everyone's part.
Travellers'Site - The Case For
Dear Editors,
The proposal for a Gypsy & Traveller site in Heath Road is important for the village. How we respond will say much about what kind of community we are. Many are opposed, but I want to put the case for welcoming East Cambs's approach to provision for Travellers.
Between a third and a quarter of Gypsies & Travellers in the UK are legally homeless - they have no lawful place to live. Traditional road side stopping places have been stopped up. Travellers are expected to apply for permission for their own sites or live on local authority sites, but since the Thatcher government removed the duty on Councils to provide sites, proposals on site after site have been refused. Where permission has been granted it has been through time consuming appeals to the Planning Inspectorate. Or on the worst sites, like next to the sewage works in Burwell, where we would expect no-one else to live.
Gypsies and Travellers are the most disadvantaged ethnic group in the UK: Life expectancy for men is 20 years less than average; 18% of Traveller mothers have experienced the death of a child compared with less 1% for others;
In 2004 52% of children got 5 GCSE A to Cs. For Irish Travellers it was 30%, for Roma 13%.
These appalling outcomes would be unacceptable for any other group. They are a result of the lack of residential provision -stress from fear of eviction, being unable to register for a doctor, children moved from school to school. Some Travellers want to continue moving. The majority accept the traditional life has gone. They want to be allowed to live on sites which reflect their preference for the open air life - and with access to the health and education facilities the rest of us enjoy as a right. The numbers are tiny. The East Cambs Plan proposes 6,200 more homes on unallocated sites -but we are opposing 38 pitches in East Cambs, 6 in Prior, for a community who have lived here for many, many years.
Ultimately the repetitive refusals of planning permission, our treatment of Gypsies and Travellers is racism. The ways of describing black people, Jews or gays that were current in the 1960s but are no longer acceptable, live on in our attitudes to Travellers.
I understand some of the nervousness of people who live close to the site. But the technical objections can be addressed. The County Council own a lot of land and there may be a better position. Planning will take a couple of years, giving time to work with the school and local education authority to address the needs of all the children. We are a privileged community. I would make the case for having the courage as a community to set the pace at changing social attitudes, rather than defaulting to exclusion and nimbyism.
Dear Editors,
On Tuesday, like very many others, I went along to the Village Hall to hear about the proposed Gypsy/Traveller site on Heath Road.
Before attending the meeting I had researched that councils have a legal responsibility to plan for the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers in the district and that those living on such council owned 'authorised sites' pay council tax, rent and utilities.
Through my research I also learnt that the travelling community have significant problems in accessing health, education and social services as a result of frequent evictions from unauthorised sites. The following highlight the extent of deprivation:
less than a quarter of traveller and gypsy children obtain 5 GCSE's at A-C Grade that the life expectancy of men and women is 10 years lower than the national average
that traveller women are 20 times more likely to have experienced the death of a child
gypsy and traveller children are often bullied at school. In short, gypsies and travellers are the most discriminated against group in our society today.
I had gone to the meeting hoping to hear an informed discussion and to meet with other villagers who wished to air their concerns, hear something about those who could be our neighbours and where traveller sites are a success. Instead, our village reaction of extreme hostility - thinly veiled in clever, organised and costly legal speak, has left feelings of shock, sadness and shame
The Crier has also received another letter complaining about prejudice at this meeting, but there was no signature or contact information. We always need this, even if we agree to publish anon. If this correspondent would like to get in touch with the magazine, we can publish this next month.
Travellers'Site - The Case Against
Dear Editor(s),
Full marks to those who called the excellent emergency meeting on the 13th of July. The proposed gypsy sites at Goodwin Farm, Heath Road, were given short shrift by an overwhelming majority of the 250 plus people present at the Village Hall.East Cambridgeshire District Council - temporarily at least the enemy of the Swaffham Prior area - has said that, 'There is a particular shortage of sites in the south of the district.' I would dispute this as there is a large site at First Drove, Burwell, and a smaller one at Muckdungle Corner, Bottisham. Given these facts, I believe that the Bottisham/Swaffhams/Burwell area has done its bit towards gypsy site provision. There is no proven need for more sites and, aside from a few fools, there are no local people who would support any more.
As a local resident and as a member of Swaffham Prior Parish Council, I feel for the whole village and for our neighbour villages but I feel most especially for Mr Steven, of Goodwin Farm, whose property has become valueless in just a few days. The same fate could befall many more of us.
The pressure is now on our Councillor representatives to kill this unnecessary and unwanted proposal. I wish them success.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Editors,
Following on from the Community Meeting, these are just some of the many valid reasons why we are opposed to having a site for Gypsies and Travellers on Heath Road.
Why does ECDC state that additional Gypsy and Traveller sites are needed? Their assessments are apparently based on 2007 figures. But a survey dated Jan 2010 (www.communities.gov.uk) lists 3 Local Authority sites in East Cambs: First Drove, Burwell; Earith Bridge and Church Rd, Wentworth. These three sites have a total capacity of 93 caravans, but according to the same web-site, in Jan 2010 the number of caravans on E Cambs Local Authority sites was only 74, i.e. there was spare capacity for another 19 caravans. The census also reports that the number of caravans on unauthorised sites in E Cambs was 9; i.e. rather than the alleged shortfall there is actually excess capacity; and this does not include the (presumably privately owned) 'existing sites'listed in the Options document at Haddenham, Witchford and Fordham. In addition, the census shows that between Jan 2008 and Jan 2010 the number of caravans on authorised sites (private and council) rose by 24 from 124 to 148, yet during that period there was always a 'hardcore'of 7-21 caravans on unauthorised sites. Therefore, providing additional sites would not remove the problem of caravans being pitched on unauthorised sites. Setting aside whether or not additional pitches are needed, Swaffham Prior is not a good place for a G&T site. The school is over-subscribed, as are the schools in the neighbouring villages, so the education and welfare of all the children in the village would be adversely affected by overcrowding or the need for children to be transported long distances to other schools. The idea that additional money would be available to provide more teachers and classrooms is a pipedream; the government has cut funding for ongoing building work in schools. There is no shop or post office in the village, the bus service is infrequent during the day and does not operate after 6pm or on Sundays.
In particular, the site identified on Heath Road is not suitable. Other sites have been rejected because of 'detrimental impact'to the neighbouring dwelling or to the character and appearance of the area. The proposed site is close to two residences, ours and Goodwin Farm, and would certainly have a detrimental impact in terms of noise, nuisance and peace of mind. Heath Road is a cul-de-sac, so the impact on all the families who live there should be considered, as they would have no choice but to travel past the site if they wished to go anywhere. This includes children who get dropped off on Mill Hill by the school bus and who would then have to walk past an unknown number and changing population of Travellers every school day. The site would be visible from Devil's Dyke and those parts of the village close by, and would be a considerable eyesore, definitely detrimental to the appearance of the area.
Finally it has to be borne in mind that most of the proposed options are extensions to existing sites, so saying 'yes'to this proposal would only be the thin end of the wedge. Worse, the options document states "Please note that site capacity is only indicative at this stage; the number of pitches that could ultimately be delivered on each site may be subject to amendment through the planning application process." and the land available is noted to be 'extensive'. This 'greenfield site'could soon be one large Traveller site.
Dear Editors
A question, a comment and some matters of concern regarding the suggested site.
Firstly, unlike all others under consideration, the Goodwin Farm site proposes
Site size: 6 large pitches
The document defines a pitch:
What is a Pitch? A pitch is the space required to accommodate one household and their caravans. Pitches on Council run sites generally accommodate 2-3 caravans, a brick dayroom and parking/garden space. On these sites 300m2 per pitch would be considered generous. Private sites are usually larger as they cater for extended families. Source: ECDC Sub-District Gypsy and Travellers Needs Assessment 2007
How many caravans are therefore accommodated on a LARGE pitch? 24 or 30 caravans on a fully occupied site?
We would comment on the so-called sustainability of the proposed site. The fact that it is relatively near a bus stop apparently makes it sustainable. However, according to Planning Policy Statement 1 in the section on Sustainability para 14 and extracts from para 16.
14. The Government is committed to developing strong, vibrant and sustainable communities and to promoting community cohesion in both urban and rural areas. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal well-being, social cohesion and inclusion and creating equal opportunity for all citizens.
16. Development plans should promote development that creates socially inclusive communities, including suitable mixes of housing. Plan policies should:
-ensure that the impact of development on the social fabric of communities is considered and taken into account;
-address accessibility (both in terms of location and physical access) for all members of the community to jobs, health, housing, education, shops, leisure and community facilities;
It is not obvious where jobs, health, education, shops, leisure and community facilities exist locally. We may choose to live in a village where we need to travel for these amenities, but it seems local authorities are obliged on grounds of sustainability to locate travellers'sites close to such amenities?
Matters of concern include those things that do not consitute valid objections on planning grounds, those intangibles that make Swaffham Prior what it is. We appreciate the fact that we can walk along Heath Road or nearby footpaths with children or dogs without hindrance or concern; that we may not always lock items away over night or close all windows; that the church is always open. The proposed site is thoughtlessly located close to existing dwellings, would effectively cut off villagers further down Heath Road, and if, say, 30 caravans are accommodated would potentially skew the character of the village school beyond recognition. We have had personal and professional experiences with travellers which, with one exception, have been unpleasant; we would not wish this on the village.
We may be lucky with timing, as in guidelines issued on 6 July the new government is devolving decisions on such matters to local authorities, but we can't leave it to chance that this proposal will not proceed in Swaffham Prior. Please complete the questionnaires (details elsewhere in The Crier) -don't write letters as the "survey monkeys" can't cope with them! -to make sure your views on this proposal are clearly understood.
Thank-you
Dear Editor,
I would like thank very much all those members of the village and two passing cyclists who looked after me and called the ambulance when I had a fainting fit during a spell of very hot weather in the High Street last month. Thanks to their kind assistance I soon recovered.
Visions of the Future
Dear Editors,
I am tired of the lurid tabloid language used by some of those involved in the Parish Council and its 'reporting'.
If words like 'threat' are used in refererence to the long-term development of a nature reserve in this area, there is a responsibility to make the case that there is a threat. I have yet to hear or see any argument based on fact which justifies the use of this word in any way at all, only bizarre claims about the abandonment of land now no longer under the plough to allow wildlife to re-estavblish itself over time. Let's have some sanity. please. If you've got a fact-based argument against a nature reserve, let's hear it.
Here's a real point to consider meanwhile. Any land designated National Trust nature reserve cannot be sequestered by any government in place now or to come later, for regional building expansion plans - which will come, as sure as the sun will rise - without dismantling the system which holds land in trust for the nation - ie you, me and generations to come. Let's hope that's an unlikely prospect, and contemplate moreover its value as a bulwark against building expansion pressures in the decades to come.
And - choosing my words carefully - being in or bordering on a national nature reserve is most unlikely to harm the value of your property assets, all you homeowners reading this. And I know I speak for others too in restating: it would be a joy and a privilege for me to live in or alongside a regional nature reserve. While on this subject, I claim the title of first local resident to walk across the Reach Lode bridge. True, it was standing in a field at the time, but I have two witnesses - my impatient daughter who couldn't wait to get back on her bike and on her way, and the security man who emerged from the site compound portakabin to see what this unauthorised person was up to.
Jean Day Home Again
Dear Editors,
What wonderful neighbours who banded together and one of them took a lovely bouquet of flowers and a get-well card for Jean at Brookfields as no flowers are allowed at Addenbrookes Hospital.
Many thanks to everyone who sent get-well cards as they were most inspiring, including one from New Zealand.
The family knew when Jean was recovering when she issued orders from her hospital bed.
Many Thanks
Many apologies from the editors, who accidentally omitted this letter last month, and best wishes to Jean for her full recovery. Eds
Murky doings at the Crier?
Dear Eds
I've never known there to be an email campaign by people with positions of some responsibility and standing in the village to get other people to write letters putting forward a particular point of view, against the two letters received in support of the travellers' site. This is something new to me in village matters.
But I'll contribute an opinion, now I've talked to someone who actually has involvement with travellers...there is some serious money in the traveller community which they are prepared to put into buying land, and I know of one such instance in another area near Cambridge where they have bid big money to do this. Let them buy land and if it's theirs, they'll manage it - why should the council put up vast sums, and in these times too, to do that if travellers are willing to do it themselves?
Preferably somewhere they want to go rather than somewhere the council chooses.
The Crier invited representatives from both sides to contribute on this issue, and in neither case did we have to campaign for it. Eds
Mock Sun
Dear Editor.
Last week when walking home through the village, I noticed a Mock Sun in the sky over the Town Close.. I have not seen these phenomena for many years, so this was quite exciting, and so I thought I would share the experience with your readers. We are all familiar with a rainbow, and the way it is produced by light entering a raindrop, being reflected inside it, and then emerging split up into the seven primary colours. If the conditions are favourable, this light may be reflected three times inside the raindrop, and produce a second rainbow albeit a little less clear. The explanation of how the mock sun is produced is less clear. The text books suggest that it is formed by reflection from ice crystals. What is clear, is that it is 22 degrees from the real sun, and in four positions only, these being, above below, and to either side.
As several people were passing I took the liberty of suggesting that they looked due east, and they were all impressed. The mock sun is almost as bright as it's maker, but not so clear at the edges. It's life is not long, perhaps five minutes at the most, but very spectacular when first seen
On a completely different subject, this year has been exceptional for the fruit trees. My cherries, and mulberry, have been loaded with berries. The birds seem to be feeding elsewhere, or have died off, and left the trees with a plethora of goodies. I had expected the children to be after those cherries hanging over the path to the Red Lion garden, but they were never touched. I would not have minded, and I hope it was not because they did not recognise what they were !
Channel Swim
Dear Editors,
My swim was on the 1st July 2010 at 2pm. It was a lovely sunny day with calm
water, perfect. The pilot boat got to within 50m of the beach, Samphire Hoe,
and I swam in to start. The invigilator on board blew his whistle to signify
the start and a group of people above me on a walkway started to clap and cheer
my start. I dived into the water and was living my dream! For 3 hours I was in
my element, beautiful weather, calm sea, swimming the Channel and saying
thankyou for my life to raise money for Magpas! It was awesome! At my 3 hour
break the Captain, Eric, said that I was well on target for a 12 hour crossing
which is what I had hoped for. I realised at that point that I would need to
pace myself more so. I did the same distance again taking 4 hours, so that was
7 hours of productive swimming and making good progress. By this point we were
over half way and into French water. I had been able to see France for a couple
of hours, although I knew I should not take any notice of this as it's
still a fair way to go.
Between 7-8 hours I started to slow and my recent illness started to catch up with me, by now I was heading into darkness. Between 8-9 hours I was beginning to suffer from exhaustion and it was pitch black. The boat had its lights on, although these were mainly on the mast, so with my depleted state I began to get confused on the direction of the boat, my stroke got worse and although my determination was strong my body was not there for my determination to be channelled through. At 9 hours Eric the Captain made the fateful decision to end the swim for my safety. He was absolutely right to do so, I chose him because I trusted him and I'm glad I did. I'm sure all crews are great but I chose Eric and his crew on Pathfinder, and will use him again. If you are considering a Channel swim I highly recommend him.
So there my attempt ended, all too suddenly, but considering the fact I was not match fit 9 hours is a fair attempt. Even so it was a very bitter pill to swallow, made much easier by the kind and inspirational words and wishes that people have given me since. I am hugely grateful for your support and positivitey, you have helped to make this the amazing journey it has been. If you have sponsored me thank you very much, it goes to the very worthy cause of Magpas. We have banked over £2,000 for Magpas so far, and still collecting, thank you! You can still sponsor a good cause, either online at;
http://www.justgiving.com/Lloydswimmingchannel
Or if you dont like the internet you can donate at Lode Post Office, Bottisham surgery (which Dr Silverstone who helped saved my life helped to found), Lode Social Club and The Swan in Quy.