Racist Comments Not Welcome
This is part of a need for housing sites across the whole of the region that includes finding sites over 14,000 homes to 2011.
Unfortunately many of the responses were, either in part, or wholly racist and Mid Beds will not publish these, a position supported by legislation. Mid Beds has a clear equality and diversity code stating that all people should be treated equally regardless of race, creed, colour or religion. The racist stereotyping of Gypsies and Travellers is inappropriate and will not be supported.
The grounds on which people can legitimately object to any development are clear and are set out on Mid Beds website and in our widely distributed leaflet “Explaining Planning”. Stereotyping whole sections of a community based upon the actions of a few is not a reasonable ground for refusing a planning application.
The Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 requires any material which is defamatory or likely to incite racial hatred or contempt, and information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law, to be marked 'confidential' and not disclosed to the public. As such any representation made during this consultation that is or contains racist comments will not be published or considered relevant in our consultation.
A spokesperson for Mid Beds said: “It would not be responsible for us to publish any racist responses. Mid Beds has a duty of community leadership and a duty to treat everyone fairly. As such it cannot discriminate against any group because of racial stereotyping. No one would now say someone shouldn’t get planning permission because they are black or gay; this applies equally to Gypsies and Travellers.
“The Government and local councils acknowledge that problems exist with unauthorised Gypsy sites. However, the solution is not simply shifting this problem from area to area but biting the bullet and providing sufficient well-managed, high quality sites throughout the country and in Bedfordshire.
“Giving Gypsies and Travellers good quality sites with full facilities gives them an environment to be proud of, to respect and maintain. It is well known that if you put people in slums they become slum-dwellers but give them good, decent homes and the grow into their surroundings. There are already many gypsy families living quietly in Mid Beds who are part of their communities.”
