THE MS for Vale of Clwyd “shocked” a Welsh Government minister yesterday (March 1) after stating that there are “too many” Gypsy and Traveller sites in North Wales.

Gareth Davies MS, speaking in the Senedd, accused Welsh Government of having a “woke agenda” and said regarding these communities: “The simple message is that we don’t want them.”

He criticised Welsh Government’s expectation for all local authorities in the county to ensure enough pitches are provided to satisfy the communities’ needs.

READ MORE:

Family told to leave Rhyl water park after entering pool without paying

Travellers seen parking their vehicles opposite care home in Rhyl

Jane Hutt, Labour minister for social justice, asked Mr Davies to “rethink” his comments.

Mr Davies said: “Where the member for Cardiff Central and the Government thinks we have a shortage in Gypsy and Traveller sites, I think we have too many, especially in the North Wales area, in particular.

“Welsh Government has dictated, from here in Cardiff Bay, that every local authority needs to have at least one Gypsy and Traveller site in place to satisfy their woke agenda.

 ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍“Travellers aren’t Travellers in the sense of the word if taxpayers’ money is being spent on fixed sites in places where they don’t contribute to society or pay their way. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​

“In Denbighshire, they tried this approach back in 2018, and wanted a site on Green Gates Farm in St Asaph, and then in Rhuallt, but it was rejected time and time again through planning, and quite rightly so.

“The simple message is that we don’t want them. When is Welsh Government going to wise up, get real, and act in the best interests of people who pay their council taxes and charges?

“Conwy, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham all have sites, so why can’t we adopt a more regional approach, and say North Wales has enough already?”

NEWSLETTER: Get the latest stories from the Rhyl, Prestatyn and Abergele area sent straight to your inbox by signing up here.

Legislation was passed in 2014 requiring every local authority in Wales to prepare a Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessment. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

In response, Mrs Hutt said: “I have to say, I’m shocked by that question.

“Where there are shortcomings and where they are not available, I will be meeting with every one of those authorities and asking them why. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“I think you should rethink the things you’ve said today following the inspiring events that we’ve had this week in terms of us being a nation of sanctuary and recognising the racism that Gypsy and Traveller people in Wales have faced for too long. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“Can I thank the Local Government and Housing Committee, who’ve done an excellent report on this with challenging recommendations? ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

“I’ve accepted them all. I don’t know which member of yours is on that committee, but they accepted them as well.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

TGP Cymru’s Travelling Ahead branch, which provides a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller advice and advocacy service in Wales, also condemned Mr Davies’ comments.

The organisation also urged him to apologise.

It said: “Shameful discrimination and anti-Gypsy/Traveller rhetoric in the Senedd from one North Wales Senedd Member.

“A shameful lack of knowledge too - we call on him to apologise.”