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Somerset
The Gypsy and Traveller Team of Somerset County Council have been recognised at a national awards ceremony for the work that they do to bring communities together.
The team received the award for ‘Creating Integrated Communities’ at the UK Housing Awards ceremony in London on 6 November. Somerset County Council was the only local authority to be
shortlisted in this category.
An example of how the Gypsy and Traveller Team has brought communities together is at the Middlezoy transit site, near Bridgwater. The seven acre site boasts a children’s play area which is
available for use by the local residents as well as site occupants. An advisory group has also been created which represents the views of the local community and influences the management of the
site.
The award was collected by Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, Transport and Waste, and Iain Cairns, Gypsy and Traveller Service Team
Leader.
Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey said: “Somerset County Council is proactive in providing a range of quality services for all Somerset residents. The UK Housing award recognises the great work
that the Gypsy and Traveller team continue to do in meeting the needs of the County’s settled and travelling communities.”
Barry James, Somerset County Council’s Environmental Management Group Manager, added: “The Middlezoy transit site is a great accomplishment, and shows how Somerset County Council works
with local communities to provide services for a modern society.
“Through a mixture of provision and enforcement, the Gypsy and Traveller Team has demonstrated how to manage a traveller service for the benefit of the whole community. The success of this
project is of great credit to all those involved.”
COMMENTS
Gypsylady
Commented 8 weeks ago
I think this is a joke. i am the chair of the Romani Gypsy Advisory Group i am bast in Taunton Somerset.
I am a Romani Gypsy women that started a Group in Somerset to help Gypsies and Travellers, as we did not get any Help from our Gypsy liason Officer Mr Ian Cairns,
I have atended many meetings around Enland and in somerset in the past 2 years and have only met Mr Cairns at 1 meeting as his boss was there,
Many Gypsies and Irish Travellers ring me daily for infomation as they can never get in touch to the Traveller unit at County hall,
There are many Councill run Gypsy sites in Somerset the ones Mr Cairns looks after i have complaint that he has put none Gypsies on site , yet my people have a short fall of sites and no were to go,
Please anybody out there that works with Gypsies or Travellers that knows SOMERSET Gypsy Traveller unit and Mr I Cairns please wright your comments here let people read what the Traveller unit is real like,
I no i am a Gypsy and i am going to get a potition up to proof what Gypsies and Travellers in Somerset think!!!!!!!!!!!
Jon Land
Commented 7 weeks ago
Here is a comment from Bob Smith of the UK Romani Gypsy Council:
The idea of awarding people an award for so called excellence that involves a marginalised ethnic persecuted group of people is not only wrong but dangerous.
We as representative organisation know the effect of the concerted rebeliion done by councils against Government 1994 Gypsy sites policy-(an act affecting Gypsies now and for years to come.)
Those planners that chose to rebel against 1/94-18/94 Government Gypsy sites policy are still working in councils.
Bob Smith
The UK Romani Gypsy Council
cathayb http://www.christianromanichals.com
Commented 6 weeks ago
i cant believe it!i am married to a gypsy,and i live on a legal council owned gypsy site.we pay rent,council tax etc., yet the service we get from somerset c.c. is appaling.middlezoy might be their baby and show piece but i can assure you the rest of us dont fare very well at all.my husband and i have been in confrontation with them for many years.we have attended parliment,gypsy forum meetings,and i am a member of the national gypsy and traveller stakeholder forum.i also run or moderate a number of web sites for romanies.i have never had a good report of how somerset c.c.manage their sites.i would however state that south somerset d.c.do very well and as we have recently been taken over by w.s.d.c.we are most impressed with them and how they are endeavouring to make our lives on a level playing field with the rest of the population.we are the largest ethnic minority in britain and the least recognised.my goodness it was only two years ago we had the travellers law society involved with them on our behalf.sc.c. that is.this award was not justified.cathayb
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