Support my plan or I’ll let the gipsies in, builder tells locals

A BUILDER told locals to support his plan to build homes on land in their village or he will “invite some gipsies” to live there.

Wayne Rushton wrote letters to all 32 houses in Pinel Close, Broughton Astley, Leics, on Jan 22 stating that if his proposals for 12 new homes failed, the one-acre green would be “left to overgrow into waste land” and he and David Haynes, his business partner, would “invite some of our gipsy friends” to station themselves there.

Locals were also told that “a new water supply for the gipsies” would be provided. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “We were aware back in November that the land was coming up for sale and we contemplated trying to purchase it ourselves to secure it as open space.”

Harborough council said that it had yet to receive a planning application. A spokesman said: “We have written to the landowner stating the letter is highly inappropriate.”

Mr Rushton, from Cannock, Staffs, was contacted for comment, but had not responded.