NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray has condemned John Prescott for granting gipsies temporary permission to stay on a site in Minety.

Conservative Mr Gray said the deputy prime minister has sent a message to "gipsies across the world" that they are welcome to set up camp in Wiltshire.

A group of travellers bought the three-acre site in August 2003, digging trenches for power cables and water pipes.

A public inquiry was held in February after complaints that the changes were made without first getting planning permission.

A government inspector recommended giving them permanent planning permission, but Mr Prescott yesterday gave them permission to stay for 18

months.

Mr Gray said he should have demanded that they leave the site.

He said: "If what he is saying is that you can breach planning law and all you have to do is argue that there are not enough gipsy sites around, then it is an invitation to gipsies across the world to come to Wiltshire to set up camps illegally and be allowed to stay. I think that is very questionable.

"The truth is however many sites you provide, more and more gipsies turn up in the area."

A spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council said the authority was studying the judgement for the full implications.

Verina Hyland, of the Minety Action Group, said: "It's just a decision not to make a decision.

"It's just political correctness gone mad.

"A small group can come in and tell us what they can do and we say 'we can't do it and so neither can you'."

Mark Hookham