By Hayley Robinson

A petition will be the first step in the campaign to stop a large gipsy camp in Bobbing.

The decision was made after more than 100 people attended a meeting at Bobbing village hall on Monday night to discuss the proposal for a permanent site on land at the rear of the Bobbing Apple restaurant (pictured).

The 15-acre plot is one of some 30 sites earmarked in Swale by Kent County Council’s Gipsy and Traveller unit as being suitable.

But residents are determined not to let the Bobbing site of 12 to 14 pitches get the go-ahead.

Bill Forrester, head of KCC’s Gypsy and Traveller unit, attended the meeting along with Joseph Jones, vice-chairman of the UK Gypsy Council.

Among the concerns raised was the impact a permanent encampment would have on the area.

Tracy Wright, of Rooks Lane, said: “Swale is being developed, we’re about to spend all this money on it and we’re talking about putting a traveller site in the gateway of this new and up-and-coming area.

“The first thing people are going to see as they come down the A249 is a travellers’ site. Is that what we really want? What a waste of money.”

James Allison, of Sonora Fields, said: “Who is going to police this and make sure this site will be kept in pristine condition?”

Another resident said: “This particular site is very close to a recreational area and it is sacred to some people. We can’t have rubbish being dumped there like it has been at some unauthorised sites.”

One woman recalled how travellers had vandalised a previous site at Church Marshes.

She said: “They had washing units but they smashed them up, took the pipes out and scrapped them. How is this going to be any different?”

Fears were also expressed that the site would devalue people’s homes and questions were raised over whether the site was suitable for young families.

Tracy Wright said: “Is there not a health and safety issue putting traveller children on the site?

“It’s near a railway line and the A249, which is a main road.”

Responding to concerns from Sonora Fields residents still reeling from the destruction at the traveller site in 2008, Joseph Jones (pictured) pleaded with them not to tar the entire travelling community with the same brush.

He said: “We want to integrate like everyone else and pay our own way and we just want to be accepted.

“There’s a few bad apples among us like any community.

“Those at Sonora Fields spoiled it for everyone. We said 'nick them’.

“The biggest thing you are fighting is the unknown. My grandchildren go to school. Our children are no different to any other child. All we need is a fair crack of the whip.

“I was born in Milton. We use the local facilities but I’m still proud of who I am.”

Mr Forrester spoke to the residents about the proposal and answered their questions during the meeting.

He said: “A couple of years ago we had a high number of unauthorised encampments, particularly in this area. What we are trying to do is not get back to that problem.

“We expect the planning application to be submitted in April or May this year.”

If given the go-ahead, the site would be managed and maintained by Kent County Council.

Mr Forrester added: “The most important thing is that it’s properly managed and the people around it are not greatly impacted.

“We manage eight sites at the moment.

“Crimes like fly-tipping blight people’s lives and people shouldn’t have to put up with these things.

“I remember the Church Marshes site and one of the first things I said when I arrived in Kent was we need to close it down, and the one in Murston was built to replace it.

“Public opinion from the meeting is that you don’t want this to go any further and it will be recorded.”