Unromantic gypsies
Sir: The film shown recently on Late Night Line-Up. on BBC-2 was probably supposed to give another `romantic' view of the modern gipsy, but, in my opinion, all it did was to highlight the fact that these people, whilst serving no use to the community whatsoever, leave in their wake a trail of filth and rubbish, the clearance of which has to be carried out by the local councils and, as a result, paid for by the local ratepayers.
It is a fact that they enjoy con- siderable income from the scrap they sell. This is invariably taken in cash and is never fully declared for tax purposes. It is quite obvious from the standards of their cara- vans, complete with television aerials, large cars etc, that their untaxed income can easily range from between £5,000 to £10,00 per annum per family.
Surely, it is time that these people were made to pay their contribution to the commuity for the clearing-up and site restoration that is necessary after they leave.
It would be a relatively simple matter for the local police to notify the rates office when a group of gipsies settle on a parti- cular site. The local rating officer could then visit the site and assess the value for rent purposes and take from them a substantial cash deposit, which would be repaid to them on evacuating the site.
On the day of their departure. the rating officer could then attend the site with a local police officer and after deducting the assessed rent for the period, he could also deduct any additional charges which he might think would be necessary for clearing up by the local council refuse repartment.
I am quite sure that once they realised that their disgusting mess was going to cost them hard cash. they would 'would make some effort to do the clearing up them- selves.
A. W. Bennett Alder House, Peters Lane, White- leaf, Nr. Aylesbury, Bucks
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