Cathay takes the fight online
With just weeks to go before a general election is called, time is running out for campaigners who want the government to live up to its promise to provide full tenancy rights to Gypsies and Travellers living on local council Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites. In February Travellers Times Online reported how the government had broken it’s promise to change the law covering security of tenure on council sites because of a lack of parliamentary time.
But Romany woman Cathy Birch has harnessed the power of her Gypsy message board to encourage almost 200 other people so far to get the government to change it’s mind.
Cathay says, "There is a petition on at number 10 website and we must get at least 500 signatures in 8 weeks so please could you support Gypsies and Travellers by signing it. It says 'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Amend the Act of Parliament pertaining to security of tenure of Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches to ensure that security of tenure is given.'
“ Remember every person of the age of 18 or above can sign , its per person and so everyone in any given household with a individual email address can sign the petition. Please spread the word to family and friends.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Travellerrights/
Background
The European Court of Human Rights (in 2004)and the House of Lords (in 2008) stated that the situation regarding the lack of security of tenure for Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches amounted to a breach of Human Rights. The Government said they would amend the law by including Council sites within the provisions of the Mobile Homes Act 1983.
The Government then released an e-mail to certain organisations on 10th February 2010 saying that they no longer had time to introduce the necessary amending powers. This is despite the fact that security of tenure could be introduced with a few simple sentences. Cathay is now calling on the Government to take action now to resolve this breach of Human Rights by amending legislation to ensure Gypsies and Travellers on rented pitches have the same rights to security of tenure as other social housing tenants.
For more information see:
http://gypsy-message-board.webs.com/petitiongmb.htm.