GIPSIES have met with a local district councillor to discuss proposals to close the lane where their caravan site is located. Local residents and councillors want to close Barley Mow Lane in Tyttenhanger to through traffic in a bid to quell anti-social be

GIPSIES have met with a local district councillor to discuss proposals to close the lane where their caravan site is located.

Local residents and councillors want to close Barley Mow Lane in Tyttenhanger to through traffic in a bid to quell anti-social behaviour and incidents of fly-tipping.

A petition signed by more than 200 people has called for a temporary six-month closure on the 100-yard section between Riperian Way and the stables to see if it alleviates the problems. If successful it is hoped the closure would be made permanent.

But residents of the Barley Mow Lane travellers' site have since submitted a counter-petition to Herts Highways with 200 signatures calling for the road to remain open.

Colney Heath district councillor Chris Brazier met with the gipsies on Tuesday evening along with Herts County Council (HCC) gipsy officer Norbert McCabe to discuss the situation.

Although the travellers' site residents were still opposed to the closure, Cllr Brazier said it was a very useful exercise as he got the chance to explain the situation.

He said: "They were concerned over why they weren't consulted and were upset that the points of the villagers were being taken over theirs.

"They were also concerned about my opposition to travellers but I explained to them that I am not opposed to established sites but what I am opposed to is illegal occupation of land and the expansion of travellers' sites in the district without there being an equitable share across the county."

Cllr Brazier said the gipsies were keen to stop the repeated fly-tipping along the lane and they thanked him for visiting the site to explain the situation in more depth.

Cllr Brazier added: "It's up to HCC to decide if the road should be closed but there will be a full consultation with the police and fire services and other people who use the lane as well as the villagers and those on the site. It is not going to happen overnight.