The beautiful location at Hersden, near Canterbury, overlooking the River Stour, which applicants for a gypsy camp say has no landscape value.

by Gerry Warren

Claims a new travellers’ site at Hersden, near Canterbury, would be an eyesore, increase crime and lower property prices, have been branded as “total rubbish” by the Gypsy Council.

It has applied for planning permission for a 25-plot site and accommodation for up to 100 caravans on pasture now grazed by cattle at Hoplands Farm overlooking the Stour.

But Joe Jones, who is vice-chairman of the south east branch of the council, has responded angrily to the allegations, saying he is “sick to death of the gipsy community being treated like a virus”.

Mr Jones (pictured left), who is also director of Canterbury Gypsy Support, recently won another long-running planning battle over his own gipsy home at Moat Farm in Fordwich.

He said: “It’s the city council’s duty to find land for another registered site for gipsies in the district but it has failed so we have had to try and find our own.

“What’s the difference between us having homes there and the new Chislet Heights development at Hersden? We are people with a 500-year-old history and customs and those who are criticising us just portray their ignorance.

“The new site would be family-orientated and because each would own their own plot, there will be pride in its appearance. They are not like unlicensed sites. It would also be at no cost to the council or local tax payers.”

Mr Jones said there was big demand for a new gipsy site from families who had been 'forced into social housing’ when they wanted to live their own traditional way.

He said: “We want to live in harmony with the local community and will add to the local economy. I’m sick to death with us being treated like a virus and strangers in our own country. We are vilified because of a tiny fraction of 'wrong-uns’.

“We want to stretch out a hand to local people and I believe we can integrate quite nicely in Hersden.”

Read the full story and reaction in this week's Kentish Gazette.