Salford councillor slams 'disgraceful' treatment of traveller community in Greater Manchester

A Salford councillor has slammed other local authorities in Greater Manchester for 'not doing enough' for travelling communities in the city region. Coun John Warmisham’s comments came as the city council’s planners agreed to allow five traveller families who have been living and keeping horses on a small site in Swinton since 2016 to continue indefinitely.

He said: “Over the last 10 years I’ve been working with the gypsy community who are the most discriminated against people in the world. The way they’ve been treated is a disgrace. I don’t think Greater Manchester does enough for the travelling community. Too many councils in Greater Manchester don’t have travelling sites.

“If there are service sites available it means family members can come and visit.” The families occupying two caravans and a static mobile home along with two amenity buildings were given permission to remain on the land at Lumns Lane, Clifton in 2016, but for a time-limited period.

READ MORE: 'It's cheaper than going round Manchester': Mum spends £16 jetting off on 48-hour holidays

In June 2022 the period they are allowed to remain on the land was raised to 10 years, but now that restriction has also been lifted by Salford’s planning and transportation regulatory panel. Coun Warmisham's colleague Coun Wilson Nkurunziza agreed. He said: “Salford is and should be a welcoming city.”

The decision by panel was greeted with cheers from members of the five families who attended the panel meeting.

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