howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
a bit over the top in his comments but will strike a chord with most of us.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/news/Travellers-row-1144/Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
I'd have promoted him, not suspended him

howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
definitely not assigned to the right job, the only problem i have with his statement is his use of the term "gipsy".
the vast majority of travellers do not have that ethnicity and just leave a total mess when they leave a site much to to the disgust of local residents.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
You cannot argue against what he has said, perhaps he should not have accepted the job in the first place though?
Audere est facere.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
As a long standing local politician surely his views on travellers were known to his fellow party members so why give him the job in the first place. On second thoughts maybe it was a deliberate ploy.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
they should get him to expound his views in the lead up to their next election.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
"Cllr Rodney Chambers this afternoon branded the comments unacceptable."
The PC Brigade phrase handbook has its rules.
You can crap all over the place, but you can't say it!

Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
We have had gipsies in this country for 500 years
I don't see a problem with properly run traveller sites
Give them a 3 month pitch no overstaying, let them travel
£2000 deposit refundable on a clean pitch all bills paid up system
Bring in gang laws, big sentencing if you are committing crime under the flag as a member of a minority or religion
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have yet to see one properly run although i'm sure there are some.
cannot see anyone paying a large deposit though when they can just trespass on other people's land until such time they are moved on.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
howard
if trespass was a criminal offence Like in Ireland it wouldn't happen ,when they did this in Ireland all there travellers come to the uk
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Romaniia.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Romanians and Bulgarians are house dwellers.
They won't be living on camping sites, Lesley.
Whitfield and Guston more likely, and Sholden.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
To start with, they will be building the houses, then they'll be moving in on a loan granted on their wage.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
and don't forget the other eastern Europeans alex..they will need houses to.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Missed the point, most Romanians are displaced gypsies.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
I have very good reasons for not liking a couple of travellers and would love to hang them by their gonads if I knew who they were but isn't this "tarring" with the same brush again.
I know many Gypsy/Travellers and they are wonderful people, full of history and community spirit and just as fed up, as everyone else with the odd few that are spoiling their good name and character.
They are very shrewd businessmen and employ a lot of people, they keep their way of life close to themselves because they see their business as theirs and don't feel the need to share it outside of their community.
I suppose that leads to some people being suspicious but the truth is that all walks and ways of life, have a few wrong ones that does not make them all bad.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Personally I think it's alright for Britain to have places for travelers to camp at, which need to be furnished with facilities including clean water, electricity and toilets, with shops nearby.
However, I believe we should use this principle for British and Irish travelers, and not open up to all the travelers of Romania and Bulgaria. Otherwise we might as well give up in despair!
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
I have a lot of respect for authentic Gypsies who have a strong code.
Travellers come in two categories, those that respect the vicinity where they park up and those that leave whatever mess they have made behind and will take anything not bolted down.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Jan, travelers in Britain are not called Gypsies if they are not Gypsies.
Many are British or Irish, people who travel from place to place out of tradition.
Some may be Gypsies who are living here for generations.
We have to assure these people a fair deal and not discriminate against them.
But sites are limited, so we cannot afford to open the borders to mass traveling from Romania and Bulgaria.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
Alexander D wrote:Jan, travelers in Britain are not called Gypsies if they are not Gypsies.
.
Alexander, I am well aware of that which is why I differentiated between authentic Gypsies and travellers, you really should learn to read posts properly.

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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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