Travellers have said they have been left “intimidated” following backlash to plans to make a caravan site just five minutes from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Plans for the pitch on an Islington council estate have triggered an angry response from local residents who fear losing a “much-loved” green space.
The backlash has left the travellers feeling “intimidated” as they claim the opposition is discriminatory.
There are no permanent pitches in the borough of Islington, despite there being a need for the council to meet the needs of travellers.
Under the Housing Act 2004, the Labour-run council is required to aid the community but has struggled to do so until, in 2025, nine sites were put forward for consideration.
The proposal would see a small green space on the council estate of Aubert Court turned into a pitch for members of the community already living in social housing nearby.
A petition from “Friends of Aubert Park” has now reached 1,800 signatures, and argues against the proposed site due to the lack of green spaces within Islington.
The petition reads: “We support the need to provide suitable accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller families, but this should not come at the cost of one of Islington’s scarce parks.
“Once this space is gone, it is gone.”
A member of the Traveller community, Lisa Casey, told the local Democracy Reporting Service that caretakers on Aubert Court have been warning residents they would be “overrun with Travellers and feral children.”
Ms Casey said: “It’s not even a park.
“The land on Aubert Park is disused, you can only use it if you’re a resident. We’re taking a small portion of it. Why can’t we live within the community?
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“We already exist. We’ve been here probably a lot longer than a lot of these residents.
“We just want to give up our council homes we already live in and go back to our cultural roots.”
Mena Mongan, who works for London Gypsies and Travellers, said her organisation had been contacted the local residents.
She said: “I’m downhearted about all this. I’ve seen it far too often,” she claimed opposition to the site were “getting comments from every Tom, Dick and Harry,” without considering the consequences.
She said: “These people have nothing better to do with their money than playing with people’s lives.”
“The council has got to get on top of this.”
However, a local resident told GB News: "I appreciate their noble intentions in wanting to get out of their council flats, but why they think they have some god-given right to move onto the green next door is utterly baffling.
"There aren’t enough parks for locals as it is – why anyone would think plonking a load of caravans onto this one is beyond me. I fear for this part of the world if they get their way."
An Islington Council spokesman said: “Islington is proud of its diversity and committed to meeting the housing needs of all communities, including Gypsy and Traveller residents.
“This is extremely challenging in a high-density borough like Islington which has very limited land for development.”
The council is reviewing responses to the consultation which closed last week.
The spokesman added plans would later be reviewed by an independent Planning Inspector.
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