We the undersigned: 

  1. Oppose the provision of gypsy and traveller sites where they are not needed and cannot easily be provided in Watford and Three Rivers;
  2. Condemn those Conservative and Labour members of EERA, who voted to massively increase the number of gypsy pitches to be provided in Watford & Three Rivers (see below);
  3. Believe that EERA delegates should have taken into account the views of their professional officers, rather than acted for political reasons;
  4. Support the Liberal Democrats in their refusal to back these proposals and sign the letter to the Secretary of State;
  5. Urge the Secretary of State to send the report on gypsy and traveller site provision back to EERA for reconsideration.
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Recent comments

At a meeting of East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), held on 25th January 2008, Labour and Conservative representatives voted down a Liberal Democrat proposal that would have restricted the number of additional traveller pitches to 4 in Watford and 2 in Three Rivers.

The LibDem proposal was based on clear advice from EERA’s professional officers that there was limited demand and capacity for such sites in the Watford and Three Rivers area. This was voted down. The Assembly is chaired by a Conservative and they have over 40 members on it - the Liberal Democrats number just 13.

The Assembly, led by Hertfordshire Conservative Derrick Ashley, voted for Hertfordshire to have 176 more pitches against the officers’ advice of just 115 pitches.

The Chief Executive of EERA wrote on 15th February to Hazel Blears the Secretary of State responsible for gypsy and traveller sites, making it clear that this decision did not have the support of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Assembly.

Any readers still in doubt can ask for a copy of the letter from EERA. The letter shows the truth - that only Liberal Democrats are opposed to more gypsy and traveller sites in this area.

Carpenders Park councillor Geoff Dunne said, "There are no plans from Three Rivers to put a new gypsy site anywhere in the area. I am disappointed that the Conservatives have chosen to try to mislead you, in order to cover up their support for extra local sites."

Nascot campaigner Russell Willson said, "The fact that the Tories are trying to push extra gypsy sites into Three Rivers and Watford, so that North and East Herts can have fewer sites is bad enough. However what is worse that locally the Conservatives are trying to spread scare stories about these sites.

"This is total hypocrisy from the Conservatives - all the more so as Hertfordshire’s Conservative representative voted for the proposals."

You can view the official minutes of the meeting at www.eera.gov.uk/Documents/Meetings%20and%20Events/Assembly%20and%20Panels/Regional%20Assembly/2008-01-25/Notes%20of%20Regional%20Assembly%20meeting%2025.01.08%20.doc.
 
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