The proposed site in Ronalds Road, Highbury

A CONSULTATION on proposed sites for Gypsies and Travellers is likely to be met with opposition, and there is a risk of “inappropriate and racist comments”, a new report from the Town Hall has said.

Council chiefs met last night (Thursday) to discuss the nine proposed locations for pitches for members of the community.

Islington Council are launching a consultation on the sites, which will run until the end of January.

It is required by law to provide culturally-appropriate accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers, but there are currently no sites in Islington.

Members of the community, including a woman called Lisa and her daughter, have been campaigning for years to have sites in the borough, after the last was dismantled in 1983.

London Gypsies and Travellers (LGT) said Lisa and her family were “over the moon” with the proposed sites.

Philomena Mongan, community engagement officer at LGT, said. “It’s been a long hard campaign, and the council is supporting her [Lisa]. There’s no problem with any of the sites, we just want to see some of them being delivered.”

Most of the proposed sites would offer space for just one pitch, with a handful having space for two.

The locations offered include underused areas of grass on estates, car parks, and garages.

An officer’s report submitted to the council cabinet stated that there is a need for ten Gypsy and Traveller pitches for the period 2020-2035.

But it added: “There is likely to be opposition again from residents and there is a risk that inappropriate or racist comments will be submitted, but there will be discouraged and rejected.”

Ms Mongan told the Tribune that the community continued to face racism.

She said: “We get it constantly, left, right, and centre. A lot of it is to do with what you see on TV. Big Fat Gypsy Wedding did not help the community whatsoever. People see us as non-working, kids don’t go to school, we don’t live within the law.

“It’s all just myths. What people see is what they believe and we’re here to prove that wrong.”

The site in Ronalds Road was previously proposed in 2022, but a group of residents spoke out against it, arguing the plan had been rushed and ill-thought through.

A spokesperson for the group – who did not want to be named – told the Tribune at that time that they had concerns about people living outside or in caravans next to a railway.

“It raises a lot of concerns around pollution and safety,” they said.

Another site in Junction Road, which would have seen the Shaolin Temple be displaced, was also met with backlash, with plans to rehouse the rare spiritual temple branded “sacrilege”.

Racist comments from potential neighbours were so damaging at the consultation, that the Town Hall has decided now that there will not be an in-person meeting to discuss proposals, and people can instead submit their feedback online.

Ms Mongan said: “We expected backlash. The racist comments were terrible back in the day. It was unbelievable how racist people were in front of your face. We are finding a way around this now.”

Green councillor Benali Hamdache, who represents Highbury ward where two of the sites are proposed, said that there was an “urgent need” to find the right sites.

“Last time there was quite a lot of misunderstanding about the proposals and as councillors we did receive racist commentary about a vulnerable community,” he said.

“Not all of those concerned were bigoted, absolutely not, but it’s important we get the balance right and make sure the community doesn’t walk away feeling bruised.”