Wiltshire travellers 'hit by discriminatory and racist language'

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson has said that she doesn’t blame travellers for keeping to themselves after “years of discrimination, abuse and maltreatment.”

Wiltshire Council’s plans for over 120 traveller pitches by 2038 are set to go out to public consultation later this month.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson speaking at the latest full council meeting. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

The plans include new pitches and the intensification of existing sites across areas such as Devizes and Trowbridge, as well as smaller villages.

During the latest council meeting debate, cabinet member for planning Cllr Nick Botterill said he understood “the upset that this process has generated in certain communities.”

READ MORE: Gypsies and Travellers Plan approved for public consultation

However, Cllr Hopkinson, representing Corsham Ladbrook, argued that the plan was “way overdue.”

After seeing comments left by members of the public on articles relating to the plans, she said: “If that language was used against any other section of our society, then there would be legal action taken and it would be described as hate crimes.”

She added: “They keep themselves very much to themselves and don’t welcome outside intervention, and the reason for that is that the outside intervention tends to be hostile, so basically, they close ranks.”

Bringing up fly tipping, Cllr Hopkinson noted that not all travellers are “absolutely saints” but claimed that fly tippers often dump rubbish near the Thingley traveller site so they “get the blame.”

She said: “What I want is for any member of my community and indeed anybody else’s community to be treated with fairness and respect.”

Cllr Hopkinson argued: “People should be treated as individuals, and if they’re wrong’uns they should be dealt with, and if they’re not, they should be encouraged and supported.”

She concluded: “After years of discrimination and abuse and maltreatment, the gypsy and traveller communities have quite rightly withdrawn into themselves and distrust outsiders, and I don’t blame them.”

The consultation on Wiltshire Council’s gypsy and traveller plan will be held from Tuesday, August 20 until 5pm on Friday, October 4.

An online engagement event is being held on Tuesday, September 3, to which people must sign up before attending.

Further information events will be held at Salisbury on September 4 (4.30pm, Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre), Devizes on September 5 (4.30pm, Devizes Library), Chippenham on September 9 (4.30pm, Olympiad Leisure Centre), Royal Wootton Bassett on September 11 (4.30pm, Royal Wootton Bassett library), and Trowbridge on September 12 (4.30pm County Hall Atrium).