Oh dear. M'Unlearned Friend has congratulated Ian Mather for rising out of the pits.

Indeed, I too used to have a job in a coal mine. Ian was an electrician so I doubt he worked, although we fitters worked twice as hard on their behalf.

My point is that for a solicitor to say a professional in another field "rose" when they had a career change.... You are an elitist after all! You are as bad as me.

Regarding this situation. I reckon the main problem was the council letting the buildings get established in the first place. Now, it affects so many people, it becomes less easy to apply the law, less easy to protect the interests of nearby residents and yes, less easy to protect the interests of those who are living on the site.

A bit of a rum do, but picking and choosing when to uphold the law is fraught with danger. There may be an argument to say it is not in the public interest to enforce the order as opposed to saying the order cannot be enforced, but I would be concerned about the precedent set if the council lose the right to apply planning laws.

Incidentally, the government are looking to change the laws and one article I read implied that under proposed changes, the travellers would have more freedom to build their little community to their design. Tories to the rescue eh?