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Travellers pitch up in Surbiton (From Kingston Guardian)
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Travellers pitch up in Surbiton
7:00am Thursday 28th June 2012 in News By Tom Barnes
The traveller camp in Kingston
Travellers who packed up their caravans and left Fairfield recreation ground have pitched up in Surbiton’s Fish Ponds.
The news came just hours after the travellers left the Fairfield site after Kingston County Court ruled they were parked illegally.
A spokesman for Kingston Council said they were aware of the move and were currently reviewing the situation.
The Surrey Comet understands Greater London Authority councillor for South West London, Tony Arbour, has written to Kingston Council chief executive Bruce McDonald urging him to address the situation with travellers in Kingston.
The five caravans arrived on the Fairfield in Kingston after driving in through a gap in fencing on Monday, June 18 at about 2.45pm.
Comments(43)
DB
says...
11:06am Thu 28 Jun 12
How much is that going to cost?
richarddonnelly
says...
1:34pm Thu 28 Jun 12
No one Alan Sked, founder of UKIP, said "UKIP are a racist party and have been infected by the far right." Absolutely typical racist lying, aimed at whipping up hatred.
You're talking about a group of people who have been shunted around with a pregnant woman and a sick child, and had fireworks thrown at them.
1ou1se
says...
2:39pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
2:50pm Thu 28 Jun 12
UKIP Surbiton wrote:Fishpond Park is hyge - approx 13.5 acres. I'm sure you'll find trouble if you go looking for it hard enough.
Took the dog for a walk there this morning ... met with the gracious greeting '' what the f**K are you looking at '' .. I hope the Police are going to make sure they move on asap .
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
2:52pm Thu 28 Jun 12
DB wrote:YES, DB.
This is getting ridiculous now! Are we going to have to secure all of our public spaces to stop these people getting in?
How much is that going to cost?
People getting into public spaces? Whatever next..??
DB
says...
3:58pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:It sounds to me as though it is going to be much easier to find trouble there at the moment, though.
UKIP Surbiton wrote: Took the dog for a walk there this morning ... met with the gracious greeting '' what the f**K are you looking at '' .. I hope the Police are going to make sure they move on asap .Fishpond Park is hyge - approx 13.5 acres. I'm sure you'll find trouble if you go looking for it hard enough.
Kingston council actually seem to have acted relatively quickly to rid the Fairfield of this problem, so hopefully they will do the same again for Fishponds.
DB
says...
7:24pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:I'd prefer the people that pay for the park to be able to use it rather than it be squatted in by the lot.
DB wrote:YES, DB.
This is getting ridiculous now! Are we going to have to secure all of our public spaces to stop these people getting in?
How much is that going to cost?
People getting into public spaces? Whatever next..??
I am still not sure if your comments are actually serious, but I guess we will see how many people agree.
richarddonnelly
says...
8:50pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Look, it's some caravans in a massive field. If it was a few people on holiday who spoke with your accent and got your income, you wouldn't give a tupenny.
@Driver_H
says...
10:18pm Thu 28 Jun 12
richarddonnelly wrote:Get lost
Yeah, only those who pay for it. Ban unemployed people, children and dogs too.
Look, it's some caravans in a massive field. If it was a few people on holiday who spoke with your accent and got your income, you wouldn't give a tupenny.
richarddonnelly
says...
11:23pm Thu 28 Jun 12
richarddonnelly
says...
11:26pm Thu 28 Jun 12
QPR4Me
says...
11:36pm Thu 28 Jun 12
QPR4Me
says...
11:40pm Thu 28 Jun 12
QPR4Me
says...
11:42pm Thu 28 Jun 12
OhThisBloodyPC
says...
12:05am Fri 29 Jun 12
Apart from their cheer leaders, who insist anyone who objects to these lawbreakers is 'racist'.
So, in other words, Mr Donnelly and Prince Philip, your entire argument is based on racial grounds.
What's the word for someone who's views are entirely coloured by prejudice over one's race?
Oooh, it'll come to me in a minute.
Sorry to disappoint you, but Race is not an issue in this case, as the travellers look remarkably pale.
It's a question of community. Who contributes, who observes the laws we are all governed by, who socialises with people in the area.
Why would any public spirited, civic minded person want to sympathise with these anti-socialists?
Unless of course, you were a racist.
Think about it.
It's time you gave these issues some thought, instead of trotting out the same glib insulting, depressingly stupid response to anyone who disagrees with your narrow world view.
DB
says...
9:08am Fri 29 Jun 12
richarddonnelly wrote:I just can't understand this view. I know that there is the classic left wing ideal that people should be able to do what they want when they want, but I just don't see how that can work in our society as it stands.
Yeah, only those who pay for it. Ban unemployed people, children and dogs too. Look, it's some caravans in a massive field. If it was a few people on holiday who spoke with your accent and got your income, you wouldn't give a tupenny.
You are correct in saying that this is just a few caravans in a field at the moment, but what happens if even 1% of the total population of the country see this lot getting a free ride and decide to have a go themselves?
Whilst that is probably the beginning of some sort of utopia to you, I think that a lot of people might view it as a bit of a problem.
DB
says...
9:12am Fri 29 Jun 12
OhThisBloodyPC wrote:Exactly right. One of them started waffling on about UKIP earlier, seemingly just because one of the other commenters is affiliated to that party, even though they made no reference to it in their comment whatsoever.
As far as I know, nobody has mentioned the ethnicity of the white van invaders. Apart from their cheer leaders, who insist anyone who objects to these lawbreakers is 'racist'. So, in other words, Mr Donnelly and Prince Philip, your entire argument is based on racial grounds. What's the word for someone who's views are entirely coloured by prejudice over one's race? Oooh, it'll come to me in a minute. Sorry to disappoint you, but Race is not an issue in this case, as the travellers look remarkably pale. It's a question of community. Who contributes, who observes the laws we are all governed by, who socialises with people in the area. Why would any public spirited, civic minded person want to sympathise with these anti-socialists? Unless of course, you were a racist. Think about it. It's time you gave these issues some thought, instead of trotting out the same glib insulting, depressingly stupid response to anyone who disagrees with your narrow world view.
These people seem to respond with the same argument to every issue, regardless of what it is.
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
9:14am Fri 29 Jun 12
Meanwhile, Gypsies and Travellers are entitled to help from the Council if they have nowhere safe and permanent to live.
DB
says...
9:44am Fri 29 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:Very true, but I don't consider my own comments to be particularly racist as I would feel exactly the same way if boring middle class British people pitched up in a public park and claimed it as their own.
Gypsies and Travellers have protection under the Race Relations Act. Many of the comments made about Gypsies and Travellers would be seen immediately as racist if they were made about other ethnic groups. Meanwhile, Gypsies and Travellers are entitled to help from the Council if they have nowhere safe and permanent to live.
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
10:48am Fri 29 Jun 12
Well that's alright then.
DB
says...
11:41am Fri 29 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:The reason I wrote that is that looking back over my past comments on this issue, I did once allege that travellers settling in an area might lead to an increase in crime.
DB "not particularly racist". Well that's alright then.
I still believe that this is likely to be true, but since I can't support it with actual evidence I must concede that it was a bit of a racist comment.
I don't think that any of my other comments have been racist in any way.
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
1:52pm Fri 29 Jun 12
QPR4Me
says...
4:15pm Fri 29 Jun 12
You didn't say anything wrong. From my experience of travellers, back home in Ireland, there is a clear increase in crime when they come to town. This ranges from small time thefts and break-ins, such as stealing my father's ducks in the months before he died, and trying to sell people "laptops" that turn out to be bottles of water, all the way up with vicious family feuds where people are killed or maimed. As a result, the Garda shift them on very quickly before the "locals" take any necessary measures to protect themselves. As the area is farmed, this of course means that farmers are armed and both the Garda and the "Travellers" know it.
Beverly RA
says...
7:37am Sat 30 Jun 12
We drove on for about a mile and saw two small caravans drive over a pavement and through a gap where two wooden posts had somehow been removed. at that moment a police car arrived as if from nowhere and blocked off the entrance leaving the two caravans blocked in, as we drove on the we saw more caravans and driver on mobiles talking. there is no doubt that the quick action by the police stopped a much larger problem. Traverler are well organised, as I say Kingston was lucky.
bystander tolworth
says...
1:52pm Sat 30 Jun 12
lordofzombies
says...
7:56am Mon 2 Jul 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
10:27am Mon 2 Jul 12
Or does it not really matter, if you're happy just to tar everbody with the same brush?
I knew some Irish people once: they exploded bombs and shot at soldiers. Are all Irish people like that?
fedup58
says...
12:49pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
2:16pm Mon 2 Jul 12
"I am not being racist but..."
Classic!!
fedup58
says...
2:48pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
2:58pm Mon 2 Jul 12
For my part, I detest racists.
fedup58
says...
3:00pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
4:41pm Mon 2 Jul 12
fedup58 wrote:I quite understand, most racists hate do gooders.
I detest do gooders!
fedup58
says...
4:46pm Mon 2 Jul 12
QPR4Me
says...
5:28pm Mon 2 Jul 12
You sir, are a wind up merchant. Most of the travelling "community" in this country is of Irish extract. It has grown in recent years due to the Irish Govt taking steps to forcibly settle these people.
BTW: I am not "Stereotyping", have you ever seen a "travellers" fight? I doubt it, otherwise you would know how long it takes to wash the blood and bits of body parts away!
OhThisBloodyPC
says...
8:47pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Why do you need to obsess about the race of people in this case? It is of no relevance.
There is a word for blinkered people who pre-judge other people, purely on the basis of their race.
you seem to be projecting your hang ups onto other people.
you also seem to be anxious to stir and exploit race tensions where none exist.
You should be careful, you could get arrested for hate crimes.
fedup58
says...
10:08pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Noodles100
says...
12:26pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Noodles100
says...
12:30pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
1:14pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Travellers are recognised by law as an ethnic minority. If you insult them AS A GROUP then you are probably very close to racism. If you say things about Travellers that you would not say about Jews or blacks, then you are probably very close to racism. If you suggest that e.g. crime in an area will go up because Travellers have moved nearby, then you are probably very close to racism. If you believe that Travellers have no place in Kingston simply because they are Travellers, then you are probably very close to racism. If you try and turn other people against Travellers because of your own prejudices, then you are probably very close to racism.
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
1:16pm Tue 3 Jul 12
I'm not insulting you; I'm simply describing you.
fedup58
says...
2:22pm Tue 3 Jul 12
UKIP Surbiton says...
10:26am Thu 28 Jun 12