Travellers move in on consecrated ground
PADLOCK BROKEN, THEN BLOCKS PLACED TO HALT MOVEMENTS
GYPSY and Traveller families have parked a number of caravans on a consecrated Derbyshire site set to become a burial ground.
The site, in Derby Road, Doveridge, bordering the A50, had a fence with padlock and a number of large concrete blocks in place to prevent illegal entry.
However, late on Saturday and early on Sunday, the padlock on the gate was broken open and the concrete blocks were moved, with five caravans and other vehicles now parked on the site. A series of heated stand-offs and confrontations are said to have taken place on Sunday, June 26, between the Gypsy and Traveller families and residents.
A number of residents are said to have parked their vehicles across Derby Road to prevent any further caravans from accessing the site.
This also has the effect of preventing the families from leaving. A local resident in possession of a forklift truck is also said to have lifted the concrete blocks back into place to prevent the families from leaving – while also allegedly confronting the families and demanding they vacate the area, according to villagers.
The block preventing access and exit has been moved again. One of the families now on the site are one of the two families who have formally declared themselves homeless to Derbyshire Dales District Council. One of the families, speaking yesterday, said they prefer to be referred to as Gypsies rather than Travellers.
Nesta Jarville, who lives near the site, said a resident had blocked Derby Road and that on Sunday night there was “hell of a lot of driving at speed” to and from the site. She said: “I did not have a problem with the idea of a temporary, controlled site, but I do have an issue with them breaking in.
“I understand they want a change of scenery because of all the abuse they get. Derbyshire and Staffordshire need to get together and find a few areas they can go.”
A resident who did not wish to be named, said: “I think it is unfortunate it is consecrated ground. There
has been some talk about Travellers moving onto the site for about a week now, so maybe more could have been done to prevent access. They need a site and we need to find a site, it is not an easy situation for anyone.”
A second resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It should be illegal, I should think. It is disgraceful. I would have more sympathy if they cleaned up after themselves when they left.”
An elderly couple, who did not wish to be named, said they were not happy about the incident, purely because the families had broken into the site.
A further resident, who also did not wish to be named, said: “They have arrived late on Saturday or early Sunday and they are on what we know is consecrated ground. I’m told that DDDC has advised that they can go down to a site in Ashbourne. There were two substantial concrete blocks and a padlock on the gate, so I’m not sure how they got in.”
A district council spokesperson said: “We have started eviction proceedings at the Doveridge site. The Traveller family, which are known to us and have a local connection to the Derbyshire Dales, are being directed to a newly designated site in the council’s ownership.
“It is well known that the district council has sought to establish permanent and temporary Traveller sites in the district for decades and has not yet allocated a site for this purpose.”
Sarah Dines, Derbyshire Dales MP, said she had written to the district council to ask it take immediate action and to the police, asking that they look into reports of criminal damage “as a matter of urgency”.