Complaints to watchdog over mayor’s comments on travellers
AN EQUALITY and human rights watchdog is to look into complaints made against a mayor who said the establishment of a traveller site would lead to travellers dumping waste and smearing faeces on the homes of those who complained.
The Traveller Movement has asked the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Cardiff to investigate the comments by Cllr Jacqui Richmond, mayor of Towyn and Kinmel Bay, at a public meeting on January 9.
The meeting was held in St George village hall to discuss a proposed site for gypsies and travellers at the former Smithy layby in St George between Abergele and Bodelwyddan.
The travellers’ organisation said it had received three complaints about views expressed generally by people at the meeting, and that “racist and prejudicial” language has been used by opponents of the proposal.
Mike Doherty of the Traveller Movement said: “We were looking at this anyway but the referrals prompted us to contact the commission.”
Referring at the meeting in St George to travellers she had seen in Kinmel Bay, Cllr Richmond said: “They dumped the garden waste they’d collected, used the place as a toilet and faeces were smeared on the door of someone who complained. This is what you’ve got to look forward to. So fight like hell.”
Mr Doherty said there was a need for legal sites for gypsies and travellers, adding: “We have been following the campaign in Conwy with increasing concern. When we were contacted by residents in the Conwy area who shared our concerns, we felt we had no option but to act and engage the commission.
“Some remarks about gypsies and travellers have been racist and prejudicial. We also believe some of the councillors leading the campaign have broken the law by making public comments that fall foul of the Public Sector Equalities Duty. The leaders need to set an example. With the rights of being an elected member comes the responsibility of not discriminating against minority groups and promoting rather than endangering race relations.
“It is also councillors’ responsibility and legal duty to distance themselves from offensive comments by other campaigners and send a very clear signal that, whether you’re for the site or against, racism has no part to play.”
An Equality and Human Rights Commission spokesperson said: “The Traveller Movement has been in touch with us and we will look into the details of the letter.”
Cllr Richmond said: “I am not a racist in any shape or form. Personally, I have nothing against travellers but, if anyone comes to your area and creates that kind of distress to businesses and residents, you should speak out.”
Clwyd West AM Darren Millar, who chaired the meeting in St George, said: “People were only sharing their experiences to date of the gypsy/traveller community. Regrettably, not all members of the gypsy/traveller community are responsible members of society.”