Gypsy family housed near popular Peak District attraction is 'blighting' the village

A meeting took place last night at Derbyshire Dales District Council which was due to see a report on potential new temporary tolerated Traveller sites to be debated, along with a public consultation on the issue to be launched.

However, the issue will not be debated by councillors until after the General Election due to its "potentially controversial" nature.

One of the families identify as Romani Gypsy while another living on the Matlock station car park are Travellers. Both families declared themselves homeless and legally have to be accommodated by the district council.

Manager at the popular Heights of Abraham attraction Rupert Pugh told the meeting: "I understand that as a district we have a responsibility to the two Traveller families.

"However, I don’t understand why we are repeatedly putting these two families into unsuitable locations which actively pitch the families against the local community and members of the public wanting to use the much-needed car or coach parking facilities.

"This must be very unpleasant for the two families and contribute to their well-documented anti-social behaviour."

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Matlock Bath resident Victor Launert said: "We have given up complaining, nothing changes, nothing is done. For 10 years now Matlock Bath has had unauthorised (Traveller) encampments almost every single year, for many months of the year, now we have had a permanent encampment for almost three years.

"We have given up complaining about uncontrolled dogs, which attack our dogs when we are walking. We have given up complaining about noise which wakes us up at 6am in the morning.

"About generators which run past midnight and keep us awake. About fires and human waste littered in the woods. Nothing changes, nothing is done, nothing happens.

“We have given up complaining about the loss of parking space and revenue, about the threats made to shopkeepers and staff. We have given up complaining about being made to feel unwelcome in parts of our own village.

"Our village is not a dustbin into which you can dump the Traveller community or a dustbin into which you can dump your political problems and arguments and say job done. We deserve better from you all."

Cllr Christopher Vivian, a Matlock Bath parish councillor, said the village was a "largely tolerant and fair-minded community." However, he added there needed to be a "fair and equitable" solution to the lack of allocated Traveller sites.

Cllr Kath Potter, from Rowsley Parish Council said: "The Travellers need to be homed in a suitable environment.

"A heavily used car park on the edge of a fast-flowing river with just one tap should never be considered again."