Farmer who opposed traveller site is branded racist by council and threatened with prosecution
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 5:29 PM on 01st June 2009
With 30 years experience of living next to a community of travellers, Bryan Lee thought he could provide some valuable insight into plans to provide them with a permanent home.
But when he objected to proposals to transform a nearby field into a new settlement, his input was roundly ignored.
And he was branded a racist - warned he could face legal action from the police and equality watchdogs if he dared to continue with his 'racist representations'
Bryan Lee
Fury: Bryan Lee, standing by the proposed travellers' site, said he is not a racist
Today the retired dairy farmer spoke of his outrage at being labelled a bigot by officials at Mid Devon District Council.
Their response came after he disagreed with a proposal to convert a field in Silverton, Devon, into a 'pitch to accommodate a traveller family and one pitch for a mobile horticulture business'.
In his letter the 65-year-old outlined the problems he had faced with a previous travellers' site and said the new application was 'inappropriate for the area'.
He wrote: 'The number of families at any one time on the permanent site was an ongoing problem for the local authority as was the nature of business carried out on the site, including vehicle wrecking and various small-scale livestock ventures.'
He continued: 'Horses were turned into my fields on a regular basis.
'The police were regular visitors to the site, usually to trace stolen property but also to break up fights with other traveller families from other sites.'
When they eventually responded to his concerns, Mid Devon District Council said they would take 'no account' of his letter and warned he may be investigated under race laws.
Their letter read: 'It is the policy of the council, when making decisions on planning and building proposals and applications, to take no account of representations of a racist nature.
'I have to tell you that if the council receives any more racist representations from you, this matter will be referred to the Commission for Racial Equality or the police for investigation.
Mr Lee, a father-of-two, who lived next to a camp in Broadclyst, Devon, before moving to Silverton, said: 'This extreme reaction from the council would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic and damaging to my character.'
'I think it is absolutely outrageous. I am not a racist.'
He insisted his letter over the proposal, which has since been withdrawn, was 'a factual report of my own first-hand experience'.
He continued: 'I spent 30 years living next to a travellers' site and unfortunately in my personal experience it was hell.
'I had lots of my farming equipment stolen over that period. If my property wasn't bolted down it would disappear overnight.
'Also the place was a complete tip with rubbish everywhere. I also witnessed some very aggressive and unpleasant behaviour.'
He added: 'I wasn't suggesting all travellers acted in this way - of course they don't. I was simply pointing out what happened in my personal experience.
'I was within my right to oppose the application, especially after what I've been through, without being accused of racism by some jumped-up official at the local authority.'
A spokeswoman for Mid Devon District Council said they would not take into account comments 'where they could be reasonably be considered to be racist'.
She said: 'I appreciate that planning applications for gipsy and traveller sites can be quite sensitive.
'But the council has a responsibility under the Race Relations Act 1976 to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between racial groups.
'We have a very clear policy based on national guidelines that we will not take into account comments made in relation to planning applications where they could reasonably be considered to be racist.'
The council's treatment of Mr Lee mirrors a case earlier this year when an an elderly couple who suggested that gipsies and travellers should contribute towards the cost of cleaning up any mess they make, were also branded as racists.
Pensioners Rita and Norman Brookhouse were told that their views - expressed in response to a public consultation - breached race laws and would be ignored.
Mr Brookhouse, 73, and his wife, 76, from Havant in Hampshire, were shocked to receive an official response which told them their views were 'discriminatory' and based on 'negative assumptions'
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