TRAVELLERS, gipsies, Romanies. Now aren’t they the most romantic, evocative names and what a picture they conjure up?

a picture of a freedom-loving people who are out on the road following some inner urge to roam freely and not to be bound by the restrictions, the conventions and the straightjacket we lesser mortals accept as our way of life.

Not for us that wonderful freedom from planning and conforming which for the sake of the common good we try to abide by, and why we apply for permission if we wish to build, for we know that should we not, there are stiff penalties to pay.

Now surely travellers are either that which the name implies – or they are residents.

If they are the latter, they must therefore accept the rules of the community in which they have decided to live.

All this pandering, all this procrastination is costing the country a fortune and spoiling life in the various areas concerned.

I’m afraid if a speedy and firm example is not made, the floodgates will have been opened to admit travellers from all across Europe and then the problem will be unmanageable.