UKIP believes travellers sites ARE a party political issue

4:17pm Wednesday 5th November 2008

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EPPING Forest MP Eleanor Laing has told parliament that traveller sites were not a party political issue (Guardian, October 30), but she was wrong.

As far as UKIP is concerned this is a basic issue of accountable Govern-ment which was well expressed in your letters columns by Dennis Ramshaw.

I hear rumours of many sites for travellers across East Anglia – perhaps 90 – and it is the Regional Assembly that is pressing for these.

It is the people of Epping Forest who should be able to determine what development takes place here and which social services are funded by our council.

Unfortunately, the bulk of council decisions are directed by Westminster and the unelected Regional Assembly so we cannot punish the true culprits.

In my view, our densely populated area should not have to adopt special planning rules for people who choose a mobile lifestyle. Planning rules should be equally applicable to all residents.

The problem identified by Mr Ramshaw results from more than three in every four new laws implemented by Wes-tminster being directed from Brussels. This, too, offends the basic principles of democracy and accountable government as we Brits are unable to control Brussels.

The principles of independence for which my party is famous do not only apply to Britain’s freedom from the EU.

We also believe in freedom for local councils to act as their local voters wish and to be accountable for their success or failure.

Hand wringing is not enough; we want to leave the EU to run our own affairs and, as an independent nation, to trade freely and cooperate in friendship with Europe.

One result of such independence under UKIP would be to give planning powers back to local authorities with no override by remote appeal bodies, so that local people decide on the number (if any), location and size of traveller sites.

At present planning policy is in the hands of the unelected, remote, unaccountable regional bodies (which we would abolish) - namely the East of England Regional Assembly.

Andrew Smith, Prospective parliamentary candidate, Epping Forest constituency, Hemnall Street, Epping.