IN PROTEST against perceived discrimination against his culture, a traveller has set up his caravan outside Allerdale House, but leader of the council Mike Johnson has said that the Local Authority is committed to improve life for his community.

An unnamed member of the traveller community has explained his actions for setting up camp on the corner of the Allerdale House car park as a protest against discrimination from the council.

Leader of Allerdale Borough Council Mike Johnson said: “I strongly disagree that we discriminate against the traveller community.

“We are working to find a permanent site that will satisfy the settled and traveller community.”

He added that the process is involved because traveller communities need the same amenities nearby as settled communities.

Although the method of protest is disagreeable, councillor Johnson said that work will continue to find an ideal situation.

“We will end up going through the process that we need to go through to evict that protest.

“I strongly disagree that we’re ostracising them. I met with Billy Welsh with Mark Jenkinson and we spent three to four hours with him. We spent constructive time with him and we’re looking at several sites, we’re working closely with him.”

The plan is to visit some of Mr Welsh’s permanent sites in Darlington to see how it is done there.

Billy Welsh is the Shera Rom, or Head Gypsy and is consulted by the traveller community on a range of issues.

Mr Jenkinson and Councillor Johnson spoke with Billy about the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill before taking a tour of some of the unauthorised encampments.

The visits involved discussions with the traveller community.

Although a permanent site is on the way for Allerdale when identified, councillor Johnson said: “What they must do is comply with the same laws as the settled communities have to.

Councillor Johnson added that some traveller sites are spoiling the reputation of the community for law abiding citizens.

“It’s these individuals that cause problems for the wider traveller community.”