Alan Lodge's Blog

bit of a performance, but have just added a comments facility from http://rateyourmusic.com/yaccs/. seems really useful service. and i’d recommend ’em. Chap seems a bit overloaded however, and is limiting the number of sign-ups he’ll take. keep at thought. worth it. Unless anyone know of better, they could let us know.

This is a prime example of piece of RABID press work.

This one is particularly obnoxious. There was a rash of really evil coverage a while ago, this is the first for quite a while, of this severity. Hate to give it space on my site, but, it does give an idea of how a reason argument with some folks, is quite imposible.

I hope to be taking advice, to see if we can’t proceed against these people……..

BEWARE THE RETURN OF THE SUMMER INVADERS

09:00 – 02 July 2002

Problems caused by illegal ravers at an airfield in East Devon have brought back chilling memories for MARK DANIEL,

For many, the scenes at Smeatharpe near Honiton, where 1,000 travellers, thought to have been frustrated by the successful security at Glastonbury Festival, have encamped for their own substitute rave, have caused a shudder of recognition and well-warranted fear. Every year for many years, Westcountry farmers – and motorists – braced themselves for an annual invasion at or around the summer solstice as those purportedly seeking to celebrate peace and nature demonstrated that they were the habitual enemies of both.FOR many, the scenes at Smeatharpe near Honiton, where 1,000 travellers, thought to have been frustrated by the successful security at Glastonbury Festival, have encamped for their own substitute rave, have caused a shudder of recognition and well-warranted fear. Every year for many years, Westcountry farmers – and motorists – braced themselves for an annual invasion at or around the summer solstice as those purportedly seeking to celebrate peace and nature demonstrated that they were the habitual enemies of both.

In what Ian Johnson of the National Farmers’ Union yesterday described as “a grotesque sort of relay”, convoys of rickety vans and caravans, often several miles long, were passed from police authority to police authority as they travelled westward. Farmers in each region quaked. Once allow these itinerants to park on your land, and only a laboriously-won injunction could move them on. In the four days or more which it could take to obtain such an order, fences could be ripped down for fuel, crops trampled, livestock disturbed and often endangered, and human inhabitants intimidated by the giant dogs favoured by the travellers.

When at last the invading convoy moved on, it left behind, in lieu of visitors’ cards, a characteristic trail of litter and ordure.

Farmers, of course, are not a listless or namby-pamby bunch, and they took action to deter these unwanted tourists. In general, this was defensive action – granite boulders and heavy equipment on verges, narrowed gateways and the like are still to be found throughout the region. At times, however, action became more direct and offensive. I know of farmers who, among other tactics, “accidentally” showered encampments with slurry and bombarded them with sporadic and offensive sound, day and night. The police found themselves attempting to keep the peace in what was increasingly looking like an annual, ever-escalating war.

As with most wars, the right was not all on one side. Many would damn travellers simply for being travellers. Having lived in rural Ireland and fought to defend my property and livestock from the worst of itinerants, I consider myself a connoisseur of this culture. There were, then, at least four distinct classes of traveller. The true gypsies, versed in Romany lore and extraordinarily skilled with horses, were the most welcome and the rarest. I was invited to the funeral of one such, at which all his property, including many thousands of banknotes, were ritually burned in his caravan.

Then there were the “suburban” travellers, whom I classify as such because of their tastes rather than their travelling habits. Their caravans, which travelled alone or in twos or threes, were invariably crammed with ornate crystal or china. Laundry always hung between their caravans and the hedgerows, and their children attended school regularly, and generally looked a deal cleaner and smarter than mine. Some were born to the travelling life. Others were ideological travellers, who merely preferred life on the road. Others again – surely a rapidly growing class in this country – had acquired the apparently almost unbreakable travelling habit because of the disparity between incomes and house prices.

And then there were the “knackers”. These were highly organised villains. They lived in filth, they fought among themselves, they fought with the Gardai, with their children’s occasional teachers and with every representative of authority, but they had friends and relatives who wore very, very tidy fatigues.

There was a well-known rule for Irish landowners – never give a glass of water to a stranger. Greet him or her rather with a glower, a curse and a fierce dog, barely restrained. The knackers usually sent one of their women, usually equipped with an infant, to your door to beg for a drink for the child. Once identify yourself as a soft touch, and you were done for. One caravan would be parked on your land within hours, 20 within days. Within weeks, following an injunction, they would leave. Within a month, your house would be rid of all valuables. Within another 24 hours, those valuables would be with experts in Holland or Switzerland.

And finally, there was the “New Age” crowd – “ideological” travellers in so far as ideology was convenient. Those I encountered were lazy, physically no less than intellectually. They were promiscuous and riddled with HIV. Meningitis trailed in their wake. They were inexpressibly dirty. They used drugs, had large dogs, espoused nature worship but hobnobbed with “knackers”. They were urban spume drifting into rural waters. This is a rude analysis, but I beg the indulgence of the travelling community. I am, after all, pleading that they be treated as members of distinct classes, rather than as a homogenous whole. Imprecision is surely preferable to the gross prejudice which brands the worldwide community.

In 1994 British law was changed to bring the hostilities, if not to an end, at least to a tense ceasefire. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act empowered the police to demand that travellers leave a site “so soon as practicable”. No arrests, have yet been made under this provision, presumably for fear of European Human Rights legislation. The Act also enabled the police, however, to search vehicles, and the condition of most of these meant that the invading army could no longer campaign in force.

“We can only hope this latest gathering does not mark a renewal of the annual cultural rebellion,” said Ian Johnson. “The travelling community is diverse, and many of its members are law-abiding and respectful of property. As ever, it is the bad apples which taint the whole barrowload. I believe these are partygoers deprived of a party, which makes them a friendly and cheerful crowd but for a few idiots. I pray I am right, because the bad old days were very, very bad, and we do not want to see them recreated.”

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=77707&command=displayContent&sourceNode=77259&contentPK=2039166

This is a prime example of piece of RABID press work.

This one is particularly obnoxious. There was a rash of really evil coverage a while ago, this is the first for quite a while, of this severity. Hate to give it space on my site, but, it does give an idea of how a reason argument with some folks, is quite imposible.

I hope to be taking advice, to see if we can’t proceed against these people……..

BEWARE THE RETURN OF THE SUMMER INVADERS

09:00 – 02 July 2002

Problems caused by illegal ravers at an airfield in East Devon have brought back chilling memories for MARK DANIEL,

For many, the scenes at Smeatharpe near Honiton, where 1,000 travellers, thought to have been frustrated by the successful security at Glastonbury Festival, have encamped for their own substitute rave, have caused a shudder of recognition and well-warranted fear. Every year for many years, Westcountry farmers – and motorists – braced themselves for an annual invasion at or around the summer solstice as those purportedly seeking to celebrate peace and nature demonstrated that they were the habitual enemies of both.FOR many, the scenes at Smeatharpe near Honiton, where 1,000 travellers, thought to have been frustrated by the successful security at Glastonbury Festival, have encamped for their own substitute rave, have caused a shudder of recognition and well-warranted fear. Every year for many years, Westcountry farmers – and motorists – braced themselves for an annual invasion at or around the summer solstice as those purportedly seeking to celebrate peace and nature demonstrated that they were the habitual enemies of both.

In what Ian Johnson of the National Farmers’ Union yesterday described as “a grotesque sort of relay”, convoys of rickety vans and caravans, often several miles long, were passed from police authority to police authority as they travelled westward. Farmers in each region quaked. Once allow these itinerants to park on your land, and only a laboriously-won injunction could move them on. In the four days or more which it could take to obtain such an order, fences could be ripped down for fuel, crops trampled, livestock disturbed and often endangered, and human inhabitants intimidated by the giant dogs favoured by the travellers.

When at last the invading convoy moved on, it left behind, in lieu of visitors’ cards, a characteristic trail of litter and ordure.

Farmers, of course, are not a listless or namby-pamby bunch, and they took action to deter these unwanted tourists. In general, this was defensive action – granite boulders and heavy equipment on verges, narrowed gateways and the like are still to be found throughout the region. At times, however, action became more direct and offensive. I know of farmers who, among other tactics, “accidentally” showered encampments with slurry and bombarded them with sporadic and offensive sound, day and night. The police found themselves attempting to keep the peace in what was increasingly looking like an annual, ever-escalating war.

As with most wars, the right was not all on one side. Many would damn travellers simply for being travellers. Having lived in rural Ireland and fought to defend my property and livestock from the worst of itinerants, I consider myself a connoisseur of this culture. There were, then, at least four distinct classes of traveller. The true gypsies, versed in Romany lore and extraordinarily skilled with horses, were the most welcome and the rarest. I was invited to the funeral of one such, at which all his property, including many thousands of banknotes, were ritually burned in his caravan.

Then there were the “suburban” travellers, whom I classify as such because of their tastes rather than their travelling habits. Their caravans, which travelled alone or in twos or threes, were invariably crammed with ornate crystal or china. Laundry always hung between their caravans and the hedgerows, and their children attended school regularly, and generally looked a deal cleaner and smarter than mine. Some were born to the travelling life. Others were ideological travellers, who merely preferred life on the road. Others again – surely a rapidly growing class in this country – had acquired the apparently almost unbreakable travelling habit because of the disparity between incomes and house prices.

And then there were the “knackers”. These were highly organised villains. They lived in filth, they fought among themselves, they fought with the Gardai, with their children’s occasional teachers and with every representative of authority, but they had friends and relatives who wore very, very tidy fatigues.

There was a well-known rule for Irish landowners – never give a glass of water to a stranger. Greet him or her rather with a glower, a curse and a fierce dog, barely restrained. The knackers usually sent one of their women, usually equipped with an infant, to your door to beg for a drink for the child. Once identify yourself as a soft touch, and you were done for. One caravan would be parked on your land within hours, 20 within days. Within weeks, following an injunction, they would leave. Within a month, your house would be rid of all valuables. Within another 24 hours, those valuables would be with experts in Holland or Switzerland.

And finally, there was the “New Age” crowd – “ideological” travellers in so far as ideology was convenient. Those I encountered were lazy, physically no less than intellectually. They were promiscuous and riddled with HIV. Meningitis trailed in their wake. They were inexpressibly dirty. They used drugs, had large dogs, espoused nature worship but hobnobbed with “knackers”. They were urban spume drifting into rural waters. This is a rude analysis, but I beg the indulgence of the travelling community. I am, after all, pleading that they be treated as members of distinct classes, rather than as a homogenous whole. Imprecision is surely preferable to the gross prejudice which brands the worldwide community.

In 1994 British law was changed to bring the hostilities, if not to an end, at least to a tense ceasefire. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act empowered the police to demand that travellers leave a site “so soon as practicable”. No arrests, have yet been made under this provision, presumably for fear of European Human Rights legislation. The Act also enabled the police, however, to search vehicles, and the condition of most of these meant that the invading army could no longer campaign in force.

“We can only hope this latest gathering does not mark a renewal of the annual cultural rebellion,” said Ian Johnson. “The travelling community is diverse, and many of its members are law-abiding and respectful of property. As ever, it is the bad apples which taint the whole barrowload. I believe these are partygoers deprived of a party, which makes them a friendly and cheerful crowd but for a few idiots. I pray I am right, because the bad old days were very, very bad, and we do not want to see them recreated.”

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=77707&command=displayContent&sourceNode=77259&contentPK=2039166

THIS IS WHAT IVE TRIED TO DO ABOUT IT>>>>>>

=============================================================

Monday, 08 July 2002

Hello again.

Gosh! Having sent you a mail, over the weekend. It was some collected info on the new government proposals regarding further traveller law. But, being lawyers, your probably ahead of me. I’m just making sure. J

Anyway, you’ll know that law charges, or proposals, sometimes gives folks the ‘green light’ to behave badly towards minorities….. This is usually the vigilante tendency on the ground! However, the press also think they can get all Nazi in their attitudes also.

Shortly after send info about new government proposals, I had just been sent the link to this information. In paper called “This is Devon” – all copied below.

I am particularly angry / concerned / bothered about the whole article, but, specifically content of para #9

Is there anything to be done? Really doesn’t seem fair.

Very best

Alan Lodge [tash]

=============================================================

Tuesday, 09 July 2002

Hi Rachel.

You will have had a mail from me over the weekend, about the new anti-trav measures announced yesterday, bastards!. They’ve still not finished yet then. The mail contained the press items on it and the gov response announcement from dept prime minister etc…..

Anyway, you’ll know that law charges, or proposals, sometimes gives folks the ‘green light’ to behave badly towards minorities….. This is usually the vigilante tendency on the ground! However, the press also think they can get all Nazi in their attitudes also.

Shortly after sending info about new government proposals, I had been sent the link to this information. [all included and link, below] In paper called “This is Devon”

I am particularly angry / concerned / bothered about the whole article, but, specifically content of para #9

Spoke to the Traveller Law Partnership in Birmingham, yesterday. They thought it unreasonable, but suggested I contacted you. They only able to advise on eviction etc….

Really doesn’t seem fair just to leave it. Not sure if there is crime there. Don’t know the criteria or, likely success for press complaints.

What do you reckon, Is there anything to be done?

Very best

Alan Lodge [tash]

===================================================================

Rachel Morris [MorrisRC1@Cardiff.ac.uk]

Re: They were promiscuous and riddled with HIV. Meningitis trailed in their wake.

The Traveller Law Research Unit (TLRU) exists to conduct and publish research into the law and policy relating to Travelling People (including on its web site – address below) and to produce the magazine Travellers’ Times. With this remit, and one full-time member of academic staff with no secretarial support, it cannot provide advice, information or non-TLRU publications on request. It has not been funded to do so since April 1998.

For general advice and information contact Friends, Families and Travellers on 01273 234777 (there is a link to their web pages on the TLRU web site under ‘links’). For legal advice and representation contact the Telephone Advice Line for Travellers on 0845 120 2980: the service commences Tuesday April 2 and the Line will be staffed from 10am to 1pm and 2-5pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

Best wishes

TLRU

==================================================================

Tuesday, 09 July 2002

Attention: Chris Johnson,

Hello,

Did what you suggested and tried rachel morris in cardiff with the ‘this is devon’ piece.

I think I just got an automated reply::

The Traveller Law Research Unit (TLRU) exists to conduct and publish research into the law and policy relating to Travelling People (including on its web site – address below) and to produce the magazine Travellers’ Times. With this remit, and one full-time member of academic staff with no secretarial support, it cannot provide advice, information or non-TLRU publications on request. It has not been funded to do so since April 1998.

For general advice and information contact Friends, Families and Travellers on 01273 234777 (there is a link to their web pages on the TLRU web site under ‘links’). For legal advice and representation contact the Telephone Advice Line for Travellers on 0845 120 2980: the service commences Tuesday April 2 and the Line will be staffed from 10am to 1pm and 2-5pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

Best wishes

TLRU

An attempt to refer back to you. J

So that ‘s that then.

Cheers

Alan lodge

===================================================================

Thanks for your note about TLRU. Fair enough! If you know someone in Devon who wants to take this up, please ask them to phone us on the advice line.

Yours,

Chris Johnson

office@communitylawpartnership.co.uk

The Community Law Partnership

4th Floor, Ruskin Chambers

191 Corporation Street

Birmingham B4 6RP

Tel: 0121 685 8595

Fax: 0121 236 5121

Really doesn’t seem fair just to leave it. Not sure if there is crime there. Don’t know the criteria for press complaints.

What i do know though, is if this sort of think is allowed to stand, the vigilante quotient’ increases, and will lead to futher physical stress.!!

Press Complaints Commission

http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/cop.asp

I love this bus

“I love this bus

That I call my home

I dig this coach

That allows me to roam

My little space

That can take me any place

My sanctuary

No matter where I be

And when I know she’s ready to go

And a time to travel’s dawning

Reaching, to start her heart

She turns, she breathes, she fires, she vibrates gently

We move into the morning

Wondering whence we do depart

Knowing that there’s nothing wrong with where I am

Some folk simply do not understand.”

A Traveller

More Law Changes

More and new Anti-Traveller laws, announced yesterday, are part of the continued story of harrasement. All this described throughout the site. It just seams they haven’t finished yet!!!!

There are a lot of law changes going on, here in the UK, that affect people while trying to celebrate. Themselves, their culture. just wanting to have a nice time! and let rip with their friends. I am `middle aged’ now I suppose, but since I can remember, people around me have said. “Why won’t these bastards leave us alone? all we want to do is, festival, dance, party, etc. We’re not doing anyone any harm”. Thing is, the authorities have never agreed, and they think of `free spirits’ as a threat to the state and are treated accordingly.

I had much involvement with free festivals and the events and gatherings at Stonehenge. A free festival at the stones at the Summer solstice that had been happening for twelve years. Hundreds of thousands of young ( and not so young!) gathering for what was obviously a `common need to celebrate together. The moral majority! general worthies, the police and the no fun brigade, banded together moved the law about a bit. Then came and hit us with sticks with much blood. It was kind of like a signal and intimidation, to stop many others coming to `play with us in the fields.

Because of our reputation in Britain as having a `proper liberal democracy’, it was news all over the place, that our police could behave in such a way towards unarmed civilians, in pursuit of political ends.

Talking to people in various countries, I know its not just Britain starting to `get tough’ on deviants of various sorts. Although a lot of travelling people have left England because of the oppression of their lifestyles, some are starting to find similar law and prejudice applied to them, elsewhere as well.

Some of the ideas of festivals and travelling that we have done here, have some roots in America in the late sixties with the big festivals (with the free ones building on the edges!)., merry pranksters etc. As well as with the ideas of gathering and celebration that go back 2 or 3 thousand years that seem as relevant now, as then.

The music is only part of the mix. Many developed a sense of common purpose and identity. There was an acceptance that modern life was too fast, expensive and polluting to the environment. We had discovered a kind of ‘Anarchy in Action’, and it worked! People began working out and managing relations within `our’ communities, without reference to `Them’ .

They’re trying to squash deviance and dissent here, now. The words `new age traveller’ are dirty words here. Used by the press when they want to be rude to us. Now in `dance culture’.,it all goes round again.

Shame isn’t it. . . . .

“NO PHOTOGRAPHERS”

BLOODY HECK.!!

Am I journalist or an activist? I don’t know now. I thought I was being active on an issue. Silly me! I’m just trying to do my very moral best.

My photography grew from my concern and activism, trying to be more effective in furthering our case. The first twenty years was with free festivals and travellers. And so rearly did I have a problem in my own tribe. They , all of them, recognised that we were trying to help. Good god, that’s is why we won the beanfield trials and onwards. And managed to get some! public symaphy for OUR case. You see, I’m one of us. 🙂

You know from the content of these pages, that I know all about the issues involved, but e-mail cirulation with this content, is beginning to poison the atmosphere. I and those like me, don’t deserve it.

Nothing any of you can do about it of course, just wanted folks to know that there is an issue here! Heck, why is this starting to be an increased problem now? Even after the judge threw out the police application from j18, because the police had not made adequate photographic efforts themselves!!

That ruling should have made all photo-journalists, on this side of the fence, safer.

What I’m really about here, is a plea.

I come from a hippy/ traveller/ free festival background. Because I cared greatly about my community, with others, helped to form outfits that provided welfare, help and advice to those who weren’t getting any! This is the founding of the Festival Welfare Services and the festivals branch of ‘Release’. We felt real progress for some years before the forces of darkness started to gather. Public Order Act etc….. It started splitting families, harassment and hitting us with sticks.

Release, FWS and Festival Aid soon found the balance of the work we did, shifted by the distress caused by the police and the rather partial application of the law. Next to my work with the charities, I have been taking photographs since the late 1970’s. I felt I could be of use, in trying to gather evidence of the abuses that we said were occurring, but at that time, were unable to demonstrate and were not believed.

I say, that by making the police aware there were other eyes about, other than their own, then it frequently moderated their actions. Police and state treated us as if we were just a bunch of crusties! and could therefore behave to us as they pleased. However, many of us stared to bring civil action in the court, and with evidence, won many cases. Police operations against us were much moderated by this deterrent. They became more careful in their dealings. Perhaps saved a few broken heads.

I see many aspects of entertainment and protest today, with rootes in the time I have just mentioned. To me, as a geezer in his late-forties, it all goes round again. For photography though, it has been different.

My community encouraged me in what I was doing then. There are a few who clearly do not now. Use of pictures in the poll-tax riot were perhaps the turning point. I acknowledge the risks and am up to pace with the issues.

But if, in future, guy’s like me are prevented by activists, (I’m used to police objection), then, with the advent of miniature ‘undercover’ cameras.

The only cameras present at a scene will be the oppositions!

Surely we can’t mean that?

I was first hit with a stick by a policeman in Windsor Great Park, 1974, when they broke up our festival. Ten years latter, another policeman hit me with his stick in the Beanfield near Stonehenge. With the occasions in between, this is what I’m use to, and expect.

HOWEVER. In recent times, while trying to photograph people getting trampled by a police charge in Trafalgar Sq ‘Reclaim the Future’, I ended up with a broken ankle resulting from a lump of concrete , thrown be a drunken protester next to me. To be fair, he was aiming at the police.

Drink has played a part in two other aggravations towards me. I lost several teeth at the N30 bash, Nov ’99 outside Euston. People falling on top of each other (and me) during one of the charges. A couple of very young “warrior” types, found my distress highly amusing. Community, I thought, bleeding and lying there on the pavement!

With such dangers, why do I/we bother.

I am concerned for community and issues. I learnt my art / craft to help more fully to express OUR case. From this side of the fence.

It is why I am particularly cross with some of the content of e-mail circulating earlier in the year saying

CAMERAS AND PRESS: This is an activist gathering not a press event, so if you are coming as a journalist then you are not welcome. Also please respect the wishes of some people not to be photographed by leaving your camera at home.

+ + + + +

30 years photographing at festivals and look were its got to ……

Well, I’m all confused now.

Was it all a waste of time?

Am I journalist or an activist?

I don’t know now.

I thought I was being active on an issue.

Silly me!

The Lark Ascending:

Romance for Violin and Orchestra

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

This meditative piece was written in 1914. With the onset of the Great War, Vaughan Williams was soon to enlist as an orderly in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and composition and premières were on hold for the duration.

The piece takes its name from the title of a poem by George Meredith and the following quotation heads the score:-

The Lark Ascending

He rises and begins to round,

He drops the silver chain of sound,

Of many links without a break,

In chirrup whistle, slur and shake.

For singing till his heaven fills,

‘Tis love of earth that he instils,

And ever winging up and up,

Our valley is his golden cup,

And he the wine which overflows

To lift us with him as he goes.

Till lost on his aerial rings

In light, and the fancy sings.

George Meredith (1828-1909)

The composer left no programme note to accompany his work,

but it is not difficult to allow one’s mind to

wander when listening to or writing about the music.

It is redolent of the English countryside,

especially the wide open hills of

Vaughan Williams’ native Cotswold landscape.

I AM A ROCK

“Don’t talk of love;

I’ve heard the word before,

It’s sleeping in my memory;

And I won’t disturb the slumber

Of feelings that have died.

If I never loved, I never would have cried.

I am a rock, I am an island.”

Simon and Garfunkel

Sounds of Silence

“When in danger or in doubt – run in circles, scream & shout”.

David Hoffman

tash (11:58 AM) :

hello, just done a mail out on new guidance / law re travellers. you want it? check your email is joehooker@btinternet.com

joehooker (11:59 AM) :

yes thanks

tash (11:59 AM) :

ok, just sent

joehooker (11:59 AM) :

I saw the BBCi news on it this morning!

tash (12:00 AM) :

right, will look at news24, just been sent press realease by home office

joehooker (12:00 AM) :

handy

tash (12:01 AM) :

forward it about, have just sent to 35 alt types, schnews, guilfin etc etc

joehooker (12:02 AM) :

will do, thanks alot Ive got plenty in my address book!

tash (12:02 AM) :

ok, did it arrive ok

joehooker (12:04 AM) :

Yes just in:-)

tash (12:04 AM) :

great, this is some of whats caused it, now…..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/062002/30/smetharpe.shtml

joehooker (12:07 AM) :

‘spose you seen this http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2097000/2097667.stm

tash (12:07 AM) :

yes sir, that one of links, just sent you

tash (12:08 AM) :

youll notice the whole skit is about gypsies and dids etc, but the BBC site you just sent, shows pic of hippies 🙂 see what i mean …..

tash (12:14 AM) :

right, just been on news24, words talking about gypsies, pictures showing hippies. oh god! here we go again….

joehooker (12:15 AM) :

that Smeatharpe thing is such a shame, everyone who was there thought that it was a sensible place for a gathering. Takeing the pressure of Glastonbury and in being on a dissused airfield (hardly pressious land). Also there was a great atmosphere on site, lots of fun and no aggression. If the police had not blocked the roads as was the wish of the locals and land owners and councillors, there would have been nothing but good news to report. But that would have served no political purppous.

joehooker (12:15 AM) :

forgive spelling…

tash (12:18 AM) :

yep, i dunno what people are supposed to do. I was in favour 20years ago, of saying “ok then, we give up! we cant hack your uppression and opposition. Ok we’ll stopp doing this and ALL ask for accomodation, can you imagine. All this has nothing to do with provision of service or protection, all about future electabily, both sides of politics, play same game.

joehooker (12:21 AM) :

this counrty is not very good at “live and let live”. Im sure that the public and political atitude is not as intollerent in ‘some’ other European countries.

tash (12:23 AM) :

no better there, france and spain, both have new laws to do with parties, raving and stuff. some now coming back

joehooker (12:26 AM) :

you tend to get left alone more to park up in France, Spain and Portugal. although the authorities are becomeing increasingly more paranoid about the anarchist political element

joehooker (12:27 AM) :

and its easier to actuallt live on your own land

joehooker (12:28 AM) :

alot of english travellers have settled in Brittany, Orgiva – Spain, and all over Portugal

tash (12:28 AM) :

well, more space i suppose, same in ireland. ok for local national to carry on, thet just don’t want ours as well

joehooker (12:28 AM) :

definately a space issue

tash (12:28 AM) :

Orgiva, do you know people in orgiva?

joehooker (12:29 AM) :

I parked there years ago and new Andy and becky at Tablones and Davey Gravey.

joehooker (12:29 AM) :

Freinds from london are parked at El Morion and have kids in local schools

joehooker (12:30 AM) :

but I havnt been there for years, My bus nearly got washed away in the floods one year..

tash (12:30 AM) :

oh gosh, my son is SAM. he’ll be 21 now. hang out with desert storm folks and ?total resistance etc. wonder if you know him

joehooker (12:31 AM) :

Maybe, I used to travle with Totals. The name rings a bell but there are alot of Sam’s

tash (12:35 AM) :

I made ’em a website before the dragon event, wot he’s to do with. at http://members.fortunecity.com/alanlodge/orgiva/frameset.htm

’tis hard to believe, but the government are about to bring forward, proposals to further outlaw traveller ways. CJA not quite enough then…

Here is the next installment.

The story so far, for travellers in this country has been oppressive. No change there then!

Bloody Heck! Here is the next instalment,

Some of this has been ‘expressed’ up the agenda, by the events at Smeathorpe, Glastonbury fringes, and would you believe, trad travellers camping out on the lawns at Eton College.

Michael Howard (bless him), the Author of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, produced the Tories effort at our control.

&

Jack Straw (also bless him), a couple of years ago had provoked a storm of controversy after suggesting groups of travellers were trading on a sentimental “gypsy” image while committing serious crimes.

Right and left have been equally horrid to us. Travellers and similar really do have no political friends and just have to take what’s thrown.

It appears that this lot is pointing at traditional travellers,

HOWEVER,

apart from those that live in ‘tourist type’ bow-tops and selling lavender, will all be treated the same. Our ‘internal’ distinctions that we make, on what ‘tribe’ we are in, makes no diff to these chaps.

====================================================

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4456003,00.html

Police given new powers to evict Gypsies from sites

Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent

Guardian

Saturday July 6, 2002

The government yesterday responded to a storm of often media-led pressure by announcing that the police are to be given new powers to evict Gypsies and travellers if they refuse to move on to local authority designated sites.

Ministers also said they would not require every local council to set up official sites for travellers.

At present the police can only evict if there is evidence of abusive behaviour, criminal damage or the presence of six or more vehicles on the site. The powers do not apply if the encampment is on land forming part of the highway.

In a compromise the government has decided the eviction powers will only apply where local authorites have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites for travellers who regularly pass through their area.

Ministers hope their proposals will ease the cultural clashes between travellers and the community but Andrew Ryder, the secretary of the Labour campaign for travellers rights, said the measures did not go far enough to help travellers.

“It is essential there is a good system of sites available, or else eviction leads to travellers being pushed on from one site to another. Many of the problems are caused by social exclusion from services, and the refusal of councils to give planning permission for Gypsies to live on their own land,” he said.

The government announced that some money in an existing £17m Gypsy site fund is likely to be rechanneled so councils open up new sites.

Mr Ryder also pointed out that Labour had condemned the decision of the Conservative government eight years ago to remove the obligation on councils to provide sites as reckless and spiteful.

In January, the official government count found that 2,774 caravans – or 20% of all British Gypsy caravans – were on unauthorised encampments. The survey showed 326 more families were on unauthorised sites than in January 2001, without guaranteed access to water, toilets and schooling.

The package, jointly announced by the Home Office and the office of the deputy prime minister yesterday, is designed to meet the continuing complaints that travellers ruin the local landscape, leave litter and behave anti-socially.

The plan – vague in parts – appears to have been rushed out ahead of a private members bill to be debated next week and sponsored by the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, David Atkinson. The Tory-led bill is likely to be more generous to travellers than government policy, but would also underline ministerial failure to come up with its own response.

The government acknowledged that disputes between councils and police over responsibility often leave communities angry at the failure of anyone to intervene. Many Tory MPs have claimed the police probably have adequate powers to remove trespassers, but do not use them.

Even Labour MPs, such as Bill Rammell, MP for Harlow, have called for travellers, rather than council tax payers to be made liable for damage caused during an illegal occupation. Guidance on managing unauthorised camping, including the proper disposal of waste, will be published in the autumn.

The guidance will emphasise the “same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health and waste”.

Gypsies claim the problem of the lack of sites is compounded by their inadequate quality. Many of 325 local authority Gypsy sites in England are often near rubbish dumps, sewage works or noisy industrial facilities. It has been claimed they epitomise the definition of a ghetto.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2097000/2097667.stm

Friday, 5 July, 2002, 14:53 GMT 15:53 UK

BBC – Travellers face eviction powers

Police could be given new powers against unauthorised traveller camps in what ministers are calling a “radical overhaul” of existing measures. Travellers can currently only be evicted if there has been criminal damage or anti-social behaviour on campsites.

The new powers could be used without that condition but only in areas where local councils have provided temporary sites for regular travellers.

Ministers are planning to help councils fund new temporary camps, as well as continuing to help refurbishing existing local authority sites.

Unauthorised camps have frequently caused rows between travellers and angry local residents in many parts of the UK.

Help for local councils

Authorised council sites have also prompted planning rows.

Full details of the plans, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Office, will be announced in the autumn.

The government is stressing that “tough” new police eviction powers must be linked to the availability of legal sites.

The government plans to provide initial funding to help local councils for “temporary, transit and emergency” stops by travellers.

That money is set to be put forward in 2003 along with a new look to the next round of the gypsy site refurbishment programme.

The government has, however, yet to say how much money it will provide.

New national guidance is being put out on dealing with unauthorised camping.

No ‘blind eye’

Ministers say those guidelines will be shaped by the views of residents, business people and farmers, as well as travellers.

A government spokesman said: “The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies.”

Those strategies needed to make clear where police and local councils took the lead.

Housing Minister Tony McNulty said the plans would help councils deal with the problem of unauthorised camps.

“Our strategy is balanced and fair,” said Mr McNulty. ”

“The same standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community and does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.”

Room for caravans

In January this year there were 325 local council traveller camp sites with room for more than 5,000 caravans.

The government says that national network can accommodate “just under half of gypsy caravans”.

But local councils are also told to consider providing places with basic waste, water and toilet facilities where travellers who visit their areas regularly can stop.

Police recently moved on travellers from land owned by exclusive Berkshire school Eton College because they believed there had been criminal damage.

Three years ago, then Home Secretary Jack Straw was accused of racism by travellers’ leaders.

Mr Straw has provoked a storm of controversy after suggesting groups of travellers were trading on a sentimental “gypsy” image while committing serious crimes.

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http://213.219.10.30/n_story.asp?item_id=136

HOME OFFICE

A NEW APPROACH TO TACKLING UNAUTHORISED TRAVELLER CAMPS

Reference: STATEMENT – Date: 5 Jul 2002 10:59

A radical overhaul of policy on unauthorised traveller encampments has been announced today to tackle public concern about nuisance and disorder arising from such encampments.

The Government’s new strategy combines tough powers for police to move on unauthorised traveller encampments with improved local site provisions.

The range of actions include:

 Provide initial funding to facilitate the provision of temporary, transit and emergency stopping place sites for travellers.

As a first step the 2003/4 round of the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Programme will be revised so as to provide initial funding for temporary sites as well as continuing to provide money to help with the refurbishment of existing network local authority authorised sites. The details are currently being drawn up, and bidding guidance with full details will be issued in the autumn.

 Produce new guidance on managing unauthorised camping.

The guidance will be informed by views both from the settled communities, including residents, business people and farmers, and travellers. The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies which set out clearly lead responsibilities between local authorities and the police for taking action. The guidance will emphasise that the same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health, proper disposal of waste and the conduct of business activities. The new guidance will be issued this Autumn.

 Provide police with increased powers to move on unauthorised traveller encampments.

The police will have new eviction powers only where local authorities have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites proportionate to the number of travellers that regularly pass through their area. This reflects the Government’s view that the use of stronger enforcement powers and adequate site provision must be linked.

Housing and Regeneration Minister Tony McNulty said the revised policy was a very positive step towards helping local authorities address the issue of unauthorised encampments by, amongst other things, improving site provision:

“Our strategy is balanced and fair. The standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community and does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.”

Home Office Minister John Denham said:

“Taken together this approach signifies the Government’s determination to provide a viable framework within which local agencies – in particular local authorities and the police – can respond to unauthorised camping in a way which recognises the needs and concerns of both the settled and traveller communities.”

====================================================

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/news/0207/0026.htm

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

News Release 026:

5 July 2002

A new approach to tackling unauthorised traveller camps

A radical overhaul of policy on unauthorised traveller encampments has been announced today to tackle public concern about nuisance and disorder arising from such encampments.

The Government’s new strategy combines tough powers for police to move on unauthorised traveller encampments with improved local site provisions.

The range of actions include:

Providing initial funding to facilitate the provision of temporary, transit and emergency stopping place sites for travellers.

As a first step the 2003/4 round of the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Programme will be revised so as to provide initial funding for temporary sites as well as continuing to provide money to help with the refurbishment of existing network local authority authorised sites. The details are currently being drawn up, and bidding guidance with full details will be issued in the autumn.

Producing new guidance on managing unauthorised camping.

The guidance will be informed by views both from the settled communities, including residents, business people and farmers, and travellers. The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies which set out clearly lead responsibilities between local authorities and the police for taking action. The guidance will emphasise that the same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health, proper disposal of waste and the conduct of business activities. The new guidance will be issued this Autumn.

Providing police with increased powers to move on unauthorised traveller encampments.

The police will have new eviction powers only where local authorities have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites proportionate to the number of travellers that regularly pass through their area. This reflects the Government’s view that the use of stronger enforcement powers and adequate site provision must be linked.

Housing and Regeneration Minister Tony McNulty said the revised policy was a very positive step towards helping local authorities address the issue of unauthorised encampments, by amongst other things, improving site provision:

“Our strategy is balanced and fair. The standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community. However, this does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.

Home Office Minister John Denham said:

“Taken together this approach signifies the Government’s determination to provide a viable framework within which local agencies – in particular local authorities and the police – can respond to unauthorised camping in a way which recognises the needs and concerns of both the settled and traveller communities.”

——————————————————————————–

Media enquiries:

Home Office 020 7273 2465/2274

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 020 7944 4603;

Out of hours: 020 7944 5925/5945

Public Enquiries Unit 020 7944 3000

E-mail: press@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

press@odpm.gsi.gov.uk

Web site www.homeoffice.gov.uk

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/

——————————————————————————–

Published 5 July 2002

Glad i went for a walk in the nature reserve outside nottingham yesterday, cos, it’s bloody aweful weather today.

July in England. really cold!!!!!. black skies, pissing down with rain. I think i need to be somewhere else. Tash

added another Blog this morning, for quotes …., so, now have blogs for:

main festival / events stories

Personal [this one]

‘Collected’ Quotes.

taken most of the day, to get this material up, but will now be easier to administer.

quotes now added to paper version and and blog. much easier to maintain.

First message to confirm this blog is started and ok……

external additions, just checking

This is test message, posted at St.Anns Library on Wednesday afternoon.

this is first effort, at updating a blog, away from base. Will check when i get home.

tash

Just reminded that a lot of people are either at Glastonbury Festival, or, just leaving.

Have been hearing of some accounts that are quite depressing really, Makes you wonder what’s all about. The fringe festival attempts, all squashed.

I suppose this is how it will all remain, unless, quite a few thousand of us, object, say no, and do it again, for ourselves. We’ll see.

tash

Tuesday: This is first post, to record the starting of this Blog. Tash

rechecking this, while everyone else is at Glastonbury. Tash

Hi Alan

It’s John here – one of the people putting the SchNEWS book together. This is a funny request – but I’m wondering if you can help.

I am doing the photostory for the book at the moment – and this one is a strange science fiction fantasy where roles are reversed and England in is the hands of basically a load of hippys, and the persecuted minority at the suburban babylonites.

The plot of this story is that they decide that they want to put a strip of pixie woodland through an area to reinstate a leyline, but for this to happen a shopping centre, a strip of motorway, an industrial park, and the end of a runway all has to go – and turned back to a woodland – to make way for the ‘leyline’ (it’s an obvious inversion of a road project isn’t it). And a stone circle gets put in in the junction between one leyline and the other. The stories called ‘The Building of the Yoghurt 11’. But it’s a big fight because all the narrow minded suburban shopping centre goers all club together and start a direct action movement called ‘Earth Last’.

What I’m after is some pics of travellers, people living out on the land – I’ve looked at the website and seen the following –

Odstock `gypsy site’ Salisbury Feb 89

Stonehenge festival 83 – the one with the red Commer van and the stones in the background.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire spring equinox March 89 – a group of people close to the stones.

it’s for the bit when they’ve kicked all the babylon out and the festival they have at the opening of the leyline forgets to go home, and there’s permaculture gardens and basically it’s a dream come true for many, while it’s a nightmare for all the motorists and babyloners.

Could you please send us some OK res versions of those ones I’ve mentioned above ( or something better if you have something in mind) – I did a screen grab of the one with the red Commer, and that would probably do. If you don’t really want to got to any trouble if you could just say if its OK to use that pic for this purpose then email me at SchNEWS.They’re such beautiful pictures I’d like to see them reproduced in the book anyway – however I have a real use and need for such pics with this story. I have pics of travellers sites that I have taken but they don’t match yours by a long shot.

SCHNEWS@BRIGHTON.CO.UK

Cheers

John Hodge

this is tash, post his first message to the Blogger on monday evening at 7.40pm. just checking ………!