A blot on the landscape
by Laura Friel
Tensions between settled communities and Travelling people are being
``stirred up'' by public representatives who should know better, says
Sinn Fein Assembly member Mary Nelis. Mary was commenting on the
current controversy surrounding an application by the Derry
Travellers Support Group to replace a portacabin on the Travellers
site in Ballyarnett with a permanent structure. The portacabin is
currently used by Travellers' children, a young women's health group
and other social activities. The new premises will be the first
resource centre for Travellers in the North. The planning application
which has been submitted to Derry City Council is being supported by
Sinn Fein but opposed by local SDLP councillors and some residents of
a nearby village.
``Some of the objections reflect genuine concerns,''
says Mary, ``but others are just a disguise for racist anti-traveller
prejudice.'' Beating the drum, SDLP Councillor Shaun Gallagher accused
Sinn Fein and the Travellers' support group of ``going behind people's
backs'' holding ``secret meetings'' and working towards a ``hidden
agenda''. Allegations all likely to fan the flames of residents'
fears.
The site at Ballyarnett, established seven years ago and
consisting of 20 units currently accomodates six traveller families.
At best the site can be described as run down, at worst it is
derelict. In stark contrast to the current state of provision at the
Traveller site, since 1992 the surrounding area has experienced
significant private development including a golf course. No doubt for
private developers the Travellers site has become a blot on the
landscape of their investment. The building of a resource centre at
the site flags up a permanency which years of decline belied. Behind
Shaun Gallagher's bile is not an objection to the resource centre as
such but the idea that a permanent development at the site will be
the forerunner of group housing provision for Travellers.
``It has
now become clear that bringing the centre to Shantallow would
strenghten the argument for a travellers' housing scheme for the
area'', Gallagher told the Derry Journal. NIO Minister Lord Dubs
recently asked the Housing Executive to develop four pilot projects
to accomodate the needs of Travellers currently encamped along the
Monagh bypass in West Belfast, as well as Travellers in the Greater
Belfast area, at Toome and at Tattykeel in Omagh.
The pilot schemes
follow years of lobbying by some Traveller families and their
supporters for group housing. For some Travellers, particularly those
whose livelihood is no longer primarily dependent on travelling,
group housing offers a solution to appalling living conditions
without breaking up the solidarity of the extended family unit. It
also amelorates against the isolation and racism experienced by
Travelling people forced into housing within the settled community.
``The heated and almost frantic language which has been used by the
SDLP's representatives on this matter comes close to replicating the
attitudes of the old Derry Corporation which vehmently resisted
nationalists demanding the right to proper and adequate housing in
the city,'' says Mary, ``as far as I'm concerned the only blot on the
landscape is the underlying anti-Traveller sentiment which is
underpinning this controversy.''
Of course the provision of group housing does not meet the needs of
all Travelling people, many of whom still wish to pursue a nomadic
lifestyle. The provision of serviced halting sites remains an
important issue for Travellers. Sinn Fein Councillor Frank McDowell
recently clashed with SDLP Assembly member Eammon O Neill over the
eviction of Travelling people from a picnic area near Dundrum, County
Down.
``The district council has a choice, `` says Frank, ``to deal with
travellers' issues or pretend that they will go away. The Council has
repeatedly chosen the latter.'' The Sinn Fein Councillor accused the
council of ignoring the call for a serviced halting site in the
Downpatrick area, refusing to provide even the most basic of
amenities. ``A serviced halting site would improve the living
conditions of all the community, settled and Travelling alike,'' says
Frank, ``but our experience tells us that few members of other
political parties are prepared to give the all round commitment
required to properly address Travellers' issues.''
Writings by Traveller children reflecting the difficulties of life
both on poorly serviced sites and housing within the settled
community.
The Flood by Trevor Doherty aged 8
``On Sunday there was lots of rain in the site. The water was up to
our knees. There were water rats in the site. We were out playing in
the water and my socks were wet. We were playing on our bikes because
there were big brown rats in the water.''
My New House by Mary Crumlish aged 8
``The big boys fire muck balls and stones at our windows. They shouted
in our letterbox. They hit my brother Alex. I like my new house but I
don't like some of the people.''
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