News from Plymouth Labour

Time for Plymouth Tories to come clean on gypsy and traveller sites

Plymouth Labour today called upon Plympton Tory Councillors to come clean, step out of the shadows and stand up and be counted over the question of gypsy and traveller sites in the city.

On Monday none of the Tory Councillors who represent Plympton St. Mary Ward, home to one of the proposed sites, appeared at the meeting where the sites were discussed. Councillor Terri Beer who represents Plympton Erle for the Conservatives was also absent; she was one of three Tory Councillors who attempted to block the Woodford proposal at an earlier Scrutiny Commission meeting.

Labour’s Chris Pattison (Ham Ward Councillor) said it was time for those Conservative Councillors opposed to the sites to “come out of the shadows and into the full glare of daylight and state their positions”. Councillor Pattison said that some of their excuses for being absent were not acceptable. “One of them told me they had been advised by the council not to attend because they were either a Scrutiny Commission member or had been involved in previous debates on the subject. That doesn’t wash as only last week the Head of Legal Practice told Councillors they could all participate in Monday’s meeting.”

Labour is surprised to find that behind the scenes Plympton St Mary Tory Councillors, plus at least one other from Plympton, had been giving assurances of support to the Woodford campaign against a gypsy and traveller site. “The fact is that the Tories are hopelessly split on this matter. Those against the issue were conveniently absent when the vote was taken on Monday though I’m sure their reasons are perfectly understandable. Many were in the Council House before and during the debate on Monday though,” said Councillor Pattison. “Last week we backed the three Tory St Mary Ward Councillors trying to block the Woodford site, sadly none of their colleagues, including those from Plympton, backed them.”

Meanwhile Labour has reacted with astonishment at the outburst from Tory Cabinet member and Plympton Councillor, David Salter. Attacking Labour Leader Tudor Evans for being absent at the debate Councillor Salter seems to have forgotten that their “general”, Councillor Peter Brookshaw, the architect of the plans for gypsy and traveller sites, was also absent though somehow had managed to be available after the meeting to go on television and remark on the subject.

“This is hypocrisy of the highest order,” Councillor Pattison said. “Councillor Salter knows full well that Councillor Evans could not cancel his appointment in another part of the country due to the unnecessarily short notice the Tories gave for calling the meeting. We assume though that he is prepared to direct his ire at his own colleagues too.”

Answering Councillor Salter’s claim that Labour in Plymouth is shying away from recognising the fact that the Labour Government is demanding councils set up sites, Councillor Pattison said the opposite was true:

“We have always welcomed the government’s initiative on this matter and the money they have allocated to build them. People are generally fed-up with illegal sites being used and in some cases the damage caused. Gypsies and travellers have been pursuing their way of life for centuries and well managed, lawfully used and peaceable sites are something we should strive to achieve. What the government is clearly NOT doing though is instructing Plymouth City Council to ride rough-shod over the will of the people, closing their ears and eyes to public opinion and foisting upon innocent communities facilities that are bound to bring conflict and angst.”

Other news from Plymouth Labour

• Activists restart Plymstock Party as Labour targets local elections - 12 December 2011
• Plymouth politicians launch petition to keep adventure activities safety law - 6 December 2011
• "Keep Moor View in Plymouth" boundary campaign launched - 7 November 2011