Cllr Caroline Russell
A CONSULTATION on a set of three separate Gypsy and Traveller sites has been extended to give people living nearby a greater chance to comment.
Highbury ward Green councillor Caroline Russell said she had been “heartened” by responses so far and had been stopped in the street by neighbours who said they would welcome Travellers to Highbury.
A public meeting about the proposals for the site in Ronalds Road was held earlier this month with comments now extended to September.
Cllr Russell said: “Understandably this proposal is a surprise and a big change but since our public meeting I’ve been stopped in the street by people thanking us for holding the public meeting and saying they would welcome Gypsy or Traveller neighbours if the site goes ahead.”
She added: “People have got lots of time to respond to the consultation. I’m really heartened by the response from neighbours.”
Cllr Russell pointed out that one of the reasons the hunt for sites began under Islington’s Draft Local Plan was because there are a number of people from the Traveller community living in “bricks and mortar” housing in the borough who “would rather be living on a Traveller site”.
Under consideration are two sites in Junction Road, Archway, and one in Ronalds Road, off Holloway Road.
All three sites would see permanent pitches set up as opposed to a “stopping site” and would house up to three families.
The consultation states: “There are three broad groupings of Gypsies and Travellers in England: traditional English (Romany) Gypsies, traditional Irish Travellers, and New Travellers.
“Travelling is not a defining characteristic of these groups, but only one characteristic amongst others.
“The majority of Britain’s estimated 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers are thought to live in conventional housing, some by choice, and some because of the severe shortage of sites.”
Islington is required by law to find Gypsy and Traveller sites.
The government definition of Gypsies includes those “persons of nomadic habit of life”.
