Let me start by saying I have every sympathy for people who have had negative encounters with individual travellers or groups who are intent on disregarding other people's liberty.

But there is legislation to deal with assault, theft, noise nuisance and so on.

However, it is not acceptable to stigmatise a whole community because of the behaviour of a few. Many travellers work, pay taxes, pay rent and live good lives, albeit in a moving vehicle as opposed to a house.

But, over the last few years, their lot has become increasingly difficult.

The last Conservative government abolished the legal duty of local authorities to provide sites. Since then, travellers have been pushed from place to place.

This policy has resulted in the moving community having greater impact on the settled community than before.

Not content with this alone, local Conservatives now want to ethnically cleanse travellers from Brighton and Hove, one of few places that tolerates travellers.

Labour has completely failed to engage positively and improve this situation. The party is criticised for being soft but really it is stupid.

Labour should oblige local authorities to work together to provide a network of stopping places, in consultation with the travelling and settled communities, and then most of the problems would simply fade away.

-Coun Rik Child, Green Party, St Peter's ward, Brighton