Gipsies face jail if they stay in their home

Published August 15, 2009

We the undersign feel that the family should be allowed to stay on the site at Gawbridge Mill , Kingsbury Episcopi which has been there home for the past 15 years. An Eviction will put the family on the \"Road to nowhere\" where they will have to camp on unauthorised sites and face a life subject to continual eviction. A life that would lead them into further conflict with residents within the settled community in the area and cause them untold misery. The district council have a duty to make provisions for the family to enable them to continue living their cultural life in south somerset. Romany grandparents Diana and Arthur Hughes have four times failed to gain planning permission to keep there home each time they have lodged an appeal it has been dismissed. Lack of flood- risk assessments has been given as a reason by the council for the refusals of planning permission yet there has never been a problem with flooding on the site. Some of the grandchildren attend primary schools at Tintinhull and Stanchester, the youngest grandchild is 3 weeks old and the oldest is 21 years old but is mentally handicapped who has a mental age of 4 and needs constant care. The family has been told Mrs Hughes could face going to jail if the High court injunction is not complied with . The children need an education so they have got a chance to find work when they are older. Mr and Mrs Hughes both realise the importance of stability and schooling for their 10 grandchildren.

By selina turner

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