Knowing of residents’ concerns over local traveller encampments, I attended and spoke in a debate on Gypsies and Travelers in the House of Commons last Wednesday.

 

You can find a video and the text of the debate below.

 

As you will see, not only did I raise local concerns with the Minister but also a number of colleagues proving that our experiences in Aldridge-Brownhills are not isolated events.

 

Following on from the Minister’s comments, I hope to be able to report back at a later date on a more effective central policy for the managing of the unwelcome visitors. In the meantime it is good to know that Walsall Council have finally used the powers available to them to impose a borough wide ban on certain sites via the courts.

To read the debate please click on the following link to Hansard: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-12/debates/0A875213-1955-4FB5-AE62-508A70D22CBC/GypsiesAndTravellers