New Gypsy sites infringe human rights

LOCAL EURO MEP Nikki Sinclaire has slammed Solihull Councils plans for more Gypsy sites as a waste of taxpayers money and an infringement of the human rights of the settled community.  She said that she supported Gypsy and Traveller housing needs but that the process used by Solihull Council was causing misery and housing blight and is a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut'

 

Nikki focused on suggested Solihull locations at Hockley Heath, Balsall Common and Eaves Green Lane) as being hugely inappropriate attempts to force development in the Green Belt using 'Europe inspired political correctness' over traveller provision and said 'If Europe wants to dictate to us about the rights of Travellers they should also remember the rights of the settled community under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights where 

 

1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

 

She added 'Solihull Council is a willing accomplis on the contravention of these rights and is using a 'sledge hammer to crack a nut'.  They should use a strategy of evolutionary growth at tolerated sites in the Borough and (b) put in place checks and safeguards to ensure that Gypsy and traveller NEED is distinguished from the activities of Gypsy and travellers developers who are simply using the cloak of human rights and ethnic minority status to try to force residential and commercial development in the greenbelt for profit - as has been seen at the Eaves Green Lane site in Meriden - which has so incensed local residents'