Bluewater banning young Travellers

The Bluewater shopping site in Kent, which banned hoodies in 2005, now wants to ban groups of young people from the Travelling community, claims Kelli Chambers.

Earlier this year Bluewater security escorted Kelli’s daughter, Scarlett (pictured) and a group of friends off the shopping mall. “It was very embarrassing for them,” says Kelli who complained to the Mall about their actions.

“Youngsters should be allowed to go there and socialise with their friends. But we’ve been told the policy is not to allow any unaccompanied under 16s in the Mall.”

A spokeswoman for Bluewater denied the Under 16 rule, but said they were banning groups of people who were not shopping. “Bluewater does not permit groups of more than five to remain in the centre if they do not have the intention to shop,” she said.

But says Kelli: “Nowhere does Bluewater state the Mall is not a meeting place for people. Last week my younger daughter Ebony and her two friends were asked to leave. I understand there were a group of 20 girls, not from the Travelling community, there who were allowed to stay. They are routinely banning youngsters from the Travelling community.”

Three years ago Bluewater banned ‘hoodies’ and bad language at the mall.