They want to build a gypsy site on my land
A PUBLIC meeting has been arranged after a woman battled to get travellers removed from her company’s unit – only to be told a council wants to create a gypsy camp on her land next door.
Mairwen Price took legal action after a group of travellers parked in the grounds of their family business, Cambrian Price Properties, on Mona industrial park earlier this month.
She served a notice on the group who departed after three days at the site near Llangefni. But when she called Anglesey council to inform them she was given some shocking news.
She said: “It is our responsibility to inform them that the group were moving on so this is what I did – but I did not expect the response.
“They asked me if I knew Anglesey council was consulting on putting a traveller camp next door – on our land!
“I had no idea, despite the fact that this is our land and has been for years. They were consulting on this without even asking us first – I can’t believe it.
“I think it is scandalous that they would do this. When were they going to tell us if we had not happened to phone up?”
The local authority has launched a consultation on sites for travellers and gypsies in a bid to cut illegal camps. This includes a permanent site between Pentraeth and Menai Bridge and temporary stopping places in Holyhead - either vacant plots at the Penrhos Industrial Estate, and immediately to east of B&M or land south east of Alpoco.
Two vacant spots on the Mona Industrial Estate have been earmarked in the centre of the island, including Mairwen’s parcel of land.
Mairwen added: “As well as not telling us I also think an industrial estate that is miles from the nearest shop is not the right location for a traveller site.”
Although Mairwen would not want to sell the site she was concerned the local authority could use compulsory purchase powers.
“We want this site for economic development, particularly with the Wylfa Newydd project and also bio-fuel schemes coming to the island – we think there is real potential here,” she said.
“But if they buy this land from us for this camp we can’t do that and it will also make it very hard to fill the current unit because people will not want to be next to a traveller site.”
An Anglesey council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find contact details for the owner of this particular site until just before the consultation began.
“Our head of housing services, Shan Lloyd Williams, contacted the owner to explain the proposals as soon as we received the owner’s details.”
Members of Bodffordd Community Council have arranged a public meeting to discuss the issue for this Thursday night, February 25.
The event, held at Anglesey Showground, will start at 7pm with Cllr Dafydd Roberts in the chair.
Cllr Ellis Wyn Roberts said: “As a council we are completely against the plans for a gypsy site at Mona and have already discussed the issue at length.
“This is a chance for the public to have their say and show to the council how strong the public’s feelings over the issue are.”
Meanwhile, further council drop-in sessions as part of the ongoing consultation will be held at both Kingsland Community Centre and Trearddur Bay Village Hall this Wednesday, February 24, between 2-7pm.