IN reply to the story in last week s Standard, headed Owner s bid to launch gypsy scheme , I would like to make it clear I will do all within my power to provide a home for my children and grandchildren. My family lived on Little Acre site for more than

IN reply to the story in last week's Standard, headed 'Owner's bid to launch gypsy scheme', I would like to make it clear I will do all within my power to provide a home for my children and grandchildren.

My family lived on Little Acre site for more than 25 years. In that time I have seen the need for travelling families to settle.

Lots have, making homes, getting education for their children and registering their addresses for medical attention.

I hope for the day when travellers, as we prefer to be called, can get on with the local council.

Last January I talked to three council officials about the possibility of turning a three-acre plot of my 10-and-a-half-acre field into a council site, or alternatively eight individually self-owned plots for which I gave sketch drawings.

One of these officers asked if I would be prepared to be a warden if a council site was approved.

It seems that my offer of help was used as discrimination against the travellers' community in and around Wisbech.

This fact was brought to light on the proposed traveller site at Tydd St Mary by South Holland District Council to make a development on a sewer bed.

All my life I cannot recall one incident where the council has been willing to help travellers develop their own land as a home or hard standing for a caravan.

I shall continue to fight for this and try my hardest to keep within the local council's requirements. I do not want to jump the gun in any way, but if my planning is refused the local travellers council will give help with the European High Court.

Hopefully the council will see the need for traveller's development in and around Wisbech.

I am open to suggestions and am prepared to make any necessary adjustments.

The write-up about a gypsy scheme gives a wrong impression. The plot has been seeded with grass with the intention of breeding horses when the need for six plots for six plots for caravans is recognised.

REUBEN STEWART

Wisbech