Gypsies and Travellers on Novas site stuck with no electricity

The residents of the Novas Group-run site on Star Lane in Orpington, south-east London, were cut off following a fire at the electricity substation that supplies the site.

While many have since been rehoused, some people who have lived there for several years are still on site – and without electricity – more than two months later.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said the recent cold spell had made life particularly difficult.

She said: “There are children here and old people and we don’t know where to turn next.

“We asked for generators but they said it was dangerous.”

Novas said it was working with consultants and the local electricity board in order to reinstate power as quickly as possible.

A spokeswoman said: “Residents of the site have been offered temporary accommodation at another caravan site and further accommodation options were arranged with Bromley council’s homeless unit.

“Generators have not been provided on the site at this time due to health and safety concerns. Six residents have chosen to remain on site, some of whom have their own generators.”

Rodney Bickerstaffe, the former general secretary of public service union Unison, and Charles Smith, a commissioner at the Commission for Racial Equality, last Thursday slammed all political parties for “playing the race card” on the issue of Travellers to garner votes ahead of the general election.