Travellers to stay 'two or three days' for checks (From Surrey Comet)
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Travellers to stay in Kingston 'two or three days' for medical checks
1:43pm Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Kingston By David Lindsell, Assistant Editor
Travellers to stay on Kingston recreation ground for 'two or three days' to undergo medical checks
Travellers who pitched their caravans on a Kingston recreation ground may be there for days, according to the leader of the council.
Five caravans drove through a gate yesterday and spent the night in the Fairfield recreation ground.
Derek Osbourne, leader of Kingston Council, said there was a pregnant woman and a child who may have measles among the group.
He said: "It is totally unacceptable that the Fairfield is being occupied in this way.
"Security officers have been put in place to make sure no-one else enters the premises.
"Once we have carried out welfare checks on people in the camp we will make every effort to remove them."
The Fairfield Recreation Ground is next to the town centre behind the Cattle Market and the Kingfisher leisure centre.
Comments(14)
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
3:44pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Did you ask Derek Osbourne what provision is made in Kingston for the traveller community?
DB
says...
3:53pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:I certainly hope that there is no provision at all!
@David Lindsell. Did you ask Derek Osbourne what provision is made in Kingston for the traveller community?
If there is anything provided, who would pay for it? Surely it would be a bit tough to expect Kingston residents, who already pay exhorbitant council tax, to pay even more just to have their public spaces taken up by people who pay next to nothing to live there?
I am not sure why a certain section of the population seems to have so much sympathy for the traveller 'community'.
richarddonnelly
says...
4:01pm Tue 19 Jun 12
The Council rips up local services, takes millions out of the budget and spends huge amount of money on vanity projects and fat salaries for the Chief Executives, but you blame pregnant women and sick children. Nice one.
DB
says...
4:27pm Tue 19 Jun 12
At the same time, I don't think that the arrival of travellers is going to help the budgetary problems at all.
The 'pregnant women and sick children' (I thought that the article had only mentioned one of each) are totally irrelevant anyway. If I was pregnant or ill, I'd go to the local hospital rather than drive onto a public recreation ground to await treatment.
Prince Philip of Greece
says...
4:29pm Tue 19 Jun 12
DB wrote:Ignorant and bigoted, DB? What a combination.
I am quite aware of the frightening rate that Kingston Council wastes money, and I'd never defend it.
At the same time, I don't think that the arrival of travellers is going to help the budgetary problems at all.
The 'pregnant women and sick children' (I thought that the article had only mentioned one of each) are totally irrelevant anyway. If I was pregnant or ill, I'd go to the local hospital rather than drive onto a public recreation ground to await treatment.
Hospitals are NOT the place to provide primary healthcare. The traveller community (like many other minorities that you doubtless hate) find it very difficult to access healthcare.
DB
says...
4:48pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Prince Philip of Greece wrote:I don't 'hate' anyone, but I really don't understand the traveller community. I don't normally subscribe to the right wing, 'Daily Mail' type view on this type of issue, but I really don't understand how they can expect to pay next to nothing, but still access all of the services that everyone else does.
DB wrote: I am quite aware of the frightening rate that Kingston Council wastes money, and I'd never defend it. At the same time, I don't think that the arrival of travellers is going to help the budgetary problems at all. The 'pregnant women and sick children' (I thought that the article had only mentioned one of each) are totally irrelevant anyway. If I was pregnant or ill, I'd go to the local hospital rather than drive onto a public recreation ground to await treatment.Ignorant and bigoted, DB? What a combination. Hospitals are NOT the place to provide primary healthcare. The traveller community (like many other minorities that you doubtless hate) find it very difficult to access healthcare.
I don't agree on the point about primary care. I was refused an appointment at my Kingston GP surgery a few years ago because I had moved to a new house that was about 50 metres outside of their catchment area (whilst still being well inside the borough). I was stuck for a while as the GP practices close to my new home were not taking new patients. I went to Kingston Hospital twice during this period and received an excellent service.
xman007
says...
4:48pm Tue 19 Jun 12
fairfielder
says...
10:08pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Che Gary
says...
12:41pm Wed 20 Jun 12
It is a shame for the residents in the area that travellers have taken advantage of an open gate to occupy land that isn't theirs, however, someone at the council should be brought to task over the open gate, imagine if you or I had driven on to this land in our motorised vehicles, what would have happened then......
The people that need medical attention can easily access this from any walk in centre or hospital so why they need to stay is beyond me.
Get them off the land as quickly as possible so people can continue to walk dogs, play football and drink on the benches.......
BTW, who will foot the bill for the inevitable clean up, not the travellers, it will be you and I (me)
richarddonnelly
says...
12:47pm Wed 20 Jun 12
It's some caravans. Get over it.
Beverly RA
says...
8:28pm Thu 21 Jun 12
1ou1se
says...
4:04pm Sun 24 Jun 12
DB
says...
6:30pm Mon 25 Jun 12
1ou1se wrote:Sorry to hear about the troubles that you have had. I have heard about this type of thing happening many times before.
My home was robbed by travellers Xmas who offered to sell me back my stuff they cause nothing but trouble where we live bullying local residents and kids. The police do nothing cause they are scared now we are expected to have them live on a park near elderly people and where kids play this is a recreation area not a caravan park get them off now
Unfortunately, it appears that it is going to take quite a long time to get rid of these people. First it was 2 or 3 days for 'health checks, now it will be 8 days before there is even a court hearing to decide whether they will be 'evicted'.
I am not sure if the couple of 'loony left' commenters on here are serious or not, but if they are it illustrates why it takes so long to get anything done.
richarddonnelly says...
3:31pm Tue 19 Jun 12