Council rejects 'racist' views of traveller sites

A Cambridgeshire council consulting over plans for a new traveller sites has rejected more than 100 comments after describing them as racist.

Huntingdonshire District Council has asked for views on the plans to put sites on land in the area.

More than 3,000 comments from members of the public were submitted.

But 150 were rejected as they "could potentially be seen as racist in that they stereotype all gypsies and travellers", a spokeswoman said.

Revise comments.

"In these cases, we have been at pains to protect the authors from possible criticism from third parties who might suggest that they are contrary to the Race Relations Act," she added.

"We have therefore written in response, not suggesting that the authors are racist but pointing out that, having taken legal advice, some of their comments might be regarded as such.

"We have invited them to revise their comments and have allowed two weeks from the date of the letter for them to be resubmitted."

The council had extended the consultation deadline because of high levels of public interest.

The information will be used to decide where the pitches should go.

The council must provide an extra 46 permanent pitches and about 10 transit pitches by 2021.