16263/1GYPSIES in Mintey have won the right to stay on their land in the village for at least 18 months but there is confusion over a proposed move to Thingley, near Chippenham.

The Minety Action Group reacted angrily to the decision of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to grant a 56-strong group of gypsies in the village the 18-month reprieve, saying it prolonged their agony.

But other villagers claimed the action group did not speak for the majority of Minety people.

There was also confusion over plans to provide an alternative home for the gypsies at a travellers' site at Thingley, near Chippenham.

Wiltshire County Council claimed at the Mintey planning inquiry in February that it was negotiating to buy a two-acre extension to the site and it would be ready in the near future. But it emerged this week the county has still not bought the extra land and there was no guarantee the Minety gypsies would be found new homes in Thingley.

Mr Prescott set up February's public inquiry, headed by inspector Andrew Kirby, to resolve the future of a gypsy encampment on the Sambourne Road, Minety.

It came after the gypsies were accused of flouting planning law when they set up a 16-pitch caravan site on the land they own in August 2003.

But angry villagers say Mr Prescott's decision last Thursday has resolved nothing. Verina Hyland, leader of the Minety Action Group set up to remove the gypsies, said: "I am not surprised. It is a decision not to make a decision.

"We always knew the decision was on a knife-edge and we will continue to fight for what is right. The gypsies have done something wrong and I feel we have to stand up to them for the community."

County councillor Carole Soden said she was appalled by the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement.

She said: "I feel really sorry for the people of Minety because it just prolongs the agony. It is an insult to the people of Minety who play by the rules and it just opens up the whole issue of planning. It sets a precedent."

Minety Parish Council clerk Janet Lenton slammed Mr Prescott's decision saying it left everyone in limbo.

Mrs Lenton said: "It leaves everyone in the air. The majority of villagers want the gypsies moved on because they are flouting the law. I would support any effort to fight on, because this is setting a precedent.'

But Myrtle Edwards, landlady of the Turnpike Arms in Mintey, said the gypsies were not a topic of conversation in her pub and questioned whether the action group's views were representative of the village as a whole.

"They (the gypsies) don't interfere with us," she said.

By deferring the issue until a final decision can be made, Mr Prescott rejected Mr Kirby's final recommendation to allow the gypsies to stay on the site. But he agreed with Mr Kirby's findings that there was no robust and up-to-date assessment of the need for gypsy sites in the area.

Both the Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Kirby felt the gypsies should also have basic rights of access to healthcare and education.

Mr Prescott concluded that the access arrangements for the gypsy encampment did not prejudice highway safety, nor did the arrangements for foul drainage at the site and the risk of flooding raise concern.

However, he accepted the site was not satisfactory in terms of sustainability and could have a short-term impact on the countryside.

Before making a final decision, the Deputy Prime Minister has requested more discussion on issues such as progress made on extending the travellers' site at Thingley, and an assessment of the need for gypsy sites in the district.

Gypsy families welcomed Mr Prescott's decision but ruled out moving to Thingley.

Mother-of-three Susan Cole, 36, said: "Our dream is to stay in Minety. We have no prejudice about the people in Thingley but we wouldn't know who to mix with. We also fear there is a cancer risk because of the pylons there.

"We are happy we are not thrown off here. But we don't know what is going to happen to us in the future. When I heard the news I didn't feel completely satisfied. But it's a step in the right direction. The villagers have not completely won and nor have we."

Mrs Cole's neighbour on the gypsy site, Lorraine Isaacs, 37, said Mrs Hyland only represented a handful of people and the majority of villagers welcomed them.

She vowed to fight plans to be moved to Thingley. Mrs Cole said: "We won't go easy. We will fight and take it all the way to the human rights court.

"The Minety Action Group only represents a handful of people. If you spoke to 100 per cent of the village 80 per cent would be for us. I am helper two to three times a month at Minety Pre-school and the mothers and parents are lovely there."

Whatever happens in 18 months time, moving the Minety gypsies to the Thingley site would not be easy.

Terry Lee, travellers liaison officer for Wiltshire County Council at Thingley, said: "The site here is 100 per cent occupied. I have a waiting list of 16 families not including the Minety group."

Tracy Riley, a gypsy who has lived at Thingley for two years, said: "I wouldn't mind if the Minety gypsies came here, but I'd prefer if they didn't. Where are they going to put them? The site is big enough as it is."

County councillor Toby Sturgis, who is also chairman of the district council's development control committee, said there had been discussions about extending the Thingley site.

However, he said the county council have not submitted a planning application to the district council and the suggestion still had to be costed.