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Around 50 people from the Newlyn area visited the "travellers' camp"
at Tredavoe on Sunday when an "open day" was arranged by the
people living there.
They wanted to break down fears and any stereotypes people might have
about travellers, and to show local people their way of life at the camp.
This followed the issuing of an eviction order by the county council,
which owns the land at the former storage yard, and a County Court summons
a month ago.
However, the group successfully argued for an adjournment at that hearing.
They appeared in court again on Tuesday where they produced documents
which they claimed proved the land did not entirely belong to the county
council. The judge agreed to give them a further 14 days to file the evidence,
setting a final hearing date for October 7.
The group told The Cornishman after the hearing that they had organised
the open day to show local people that they were clean and honest people,
who had jobs in the community and paid tax, but who chose to live an alternative
lifestyle.
"We were very pleased with the number of people who came to meet
us on the open day," said Penzance chef, Nathan, who lives on site.
"Most people - and there were between 45 and 50 - were very supportive
of us and signed letters against the county council's attempts to evict
us."
However, business people in nearby Stable Hobba and residents in the
Newlyn housing estate closest to the site, are not so happy with the camp,
according to one resident.
In a letter to The Cornishman, the resident, who doesn't want to be named,
said she had organised a petition amongst businesses in Stable Hobba opposed
to the travellers.
She claims that 41 business people at the industrial estate have now
signed it.
Comments written down include "we don't need the trouble that these
people bring," and "you are not wanted here."
The petition organiser said: "The county council site is not a permanent
travellers site and we don't want it to become one now or in the future.
"There is a lot of work going on in the area to improve the future
of Newlyn both for the fishing and tourist industries. Surely having a
travellers site right on the edge of the village will give the area a
bad image."
She also said that local residents have been kept awake at night by loud
music.
"We have written to the police, Andrew George MP, the county council,
Penwith Council and local councillors. We are now waiting for the outcome
of the eviction order."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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