I am writing in response to J Gunn, whose letter was entitled "Travellers pay nothing" (November 10).
J Gunn pays "expensive council tax" presumably because he or she lives in a reasonably secure house with mains electricity, hot and cold running water, connected drains and has rubbish collected from his or her front door.
I have been a Brighton resident for seven years, since arriving as a student.
(In fact, students don't pay council tax either. Perhaps J Gunn would like all of them to leave Brighton, too.)
My partner and I pay Income Tax on everything we earn and VAT on everything we buy, as well as road tax and National Insurance.
I am also one of the travellers J Gunn is complaining about.
We sometimes park next to Preston Park and make sure, when we do, we leave no mess, make no noise and try to be as discreet and considerate as possible.
We live in a space smaller than the average bathroom, use less water in a week than J Gunn probably uses in a day, dispose of our own rubbish and recycling and put up with abuse, such as people throwing stones, and generally treating us like scum.
If Brighton and Hove City Council was to provide us with an appropriate site, or rent us one, we would happily park there but the only site available is full, rat infested and due to close.
We contribute as much as anyone to the local economy. It is our city as much as J Gunn's.
-Katherine Lyons, No fixed address
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