ORGANISERS of a summit called to discuss travellers’ camps denied racism claims despite refusing to allow a gypsy leader into their gathering.
Villagers at Meriden held Saturday’s event just weeks before an appeal is due on a hugely controversial bid to establish a gypsy camp on nearby green belt land.
But they refused to let gypsy spokesman Noah Burton into the meeting and denied his subsequent claim that the decision was “racist”.
Doug Bacon, vice-chairman of Meriden Residents Against Inappropriate Development, told Mr Burton: “We’ve got nothing to hide, but this is not the forum to engage in that. We will engage with the travelling community.”
Mr Burton said: “Everyone else can come here and have some sort of input and say.
“I feel abused. I feel really angry how, in modern Britain, they are getting away with blatant racism.”
Villagers invited campaigners from around the UK who are experiencing unlawful development of the green belt to draw up a joint manifesto and lobby the Government.
