David
Thank you for your reply. I appreciate what you are saying, but the travelling community do move en mass - the family unit does not only exist of parents and children. Most real travellers have many children, they also move with their parents, in laws, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, a whole extended family, that is the way of life for them.
Many travellers, believe it or not, and I have personal experience of this, do want to settle, they want their children to attend local schools and have an education. (Some travellers in the 20+ age group have very poor literacy skills due to constant moving around the country). They are, actually quite keen to become members of society and pay council tax and other utility bills. But it is the whole issue of retrospective rejected planning permission which is the issue. They are actually quite happy to settle but councils and communities don't want 'them' in their communities. The media does not help with the negative press. I would like to reiteate that there are good and bad in all societies but I can honestly say hand on heart (not through rose tinted spectacles) that I've honestly never had any dealings with bad travellers. And the offer still stands regarding the drink and socialisation at Appleby horse fair in June.
Someone has got to stand up for the travelling community, they receive such a bad press.
Anyway - We are on a caravan forum - do people not like the freedom of travelling?
Regards
Lisa.