SO, THE Government is proposing new laws to prohibit travellers setting up illegal campsites on private or public land without prior permission, the article in The Argus goes on to say. And that is the important bit.

If the Travellers who are normally organised and travel in groups, no doubt with some form of internal hierarchy, have a defined method of communication with the next districts they plan on stopping at, things can be planned out.

I think the legislation is a good idea overall to prevent any private landowners feeling overwhelmed, unsupported and reluctant even to begin a civil process of removal.

I do however believe that a travelling community should be allowed to live their own way of life on any public land, even better if they could actually engage with the surrounding inhabitants in a more organised civil manner.

Who are we to say Hove Lawns should only be used for picnics, sunbathing, barbecues to scorch the ground, football, to make car drivers brake hard when a football lands in front of them on the road , performing circuses, travelling Thai transsexual shows and food festivals ahead of fellow humans that want to stop off for a few days, as their way of live.

If the council knew in advance of a planned arrival anywhere, toilets, refuse removal facilities and water even could be provided.

They are not in an area very long are they.

Look at their carbon footprints.

Much much lower than us static dwellers.

No mains gas, electricity. Much less energy needed to heat a caravan. Living on the road means less belongings, that all had to be produced with, yep energy, fossil fuels generally.

And before people moan about the travellers not putting into the pot via tax.

Yes they do, vat is on pretty much everything they purchase, vehicle tax, insurance premium tax.

They also don't use the local schools, doctors' surgeries, require housing help and I doubt call upon the police too often to take out of the pot.

We are quick to say we are an inclusive society, let's see the bigger picture of the carbon light visitors who stop off every now and then and actually respect some of what they as humans contribute to not running this planet's limited resources out as quick as many others do.

Gordon White, Portslade