§ Mr. Jonathan Sayeed (Bristol, East)Before I present my petition, I congratulate you, Madam Deputy Speaker, on your verbal dexterity and stamina.
This petition to the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled sheweth that
the undersigned do hereby object to the intention of Avon county to develop gipsy encampments at Marsh Junction, St. Philips Marsh.It is signed by 3,000 individuals who live and work in the area. It says:The three proposed sites are within an area designated for an urban development corporation and their establishment would be in direct conflict with the purposes of the urban development corporation, which are to remove urban blight and promote regeneration.The sites will be adjacent to housing and surrounded by industrial and commercial concerns that distribute cars and trucks, produce equipment for the Ministry of Defence, manufacture and store hazardous chemicals and deal in high-value, theft-attractive items of a wide variety.Already, existing commercial concerns have been warned that insurance premiums will be raised to such a level that the viability of a number of companies will he seriously in doubt and thousands of present and potential jobs are threatened in an area of high unemployment should Avon county council's proposals be endorsed.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will call upon the Secretary of State for the Environment to reject any proposals for gipsy sites in the St. Philips Marsh area.This petition has my wholehearted support.To lie upon the Table.