I AM a Romany Gipsy who has lived in a house for most of my life and I read, with some distaste, the letter from Mrs K Dunbar, 'I thought it was all about equality', (the 'Post', January 15).

I do not own a computer so cannot access Torridge District Council's website regarding the proposed gipsy and traveller site at Derriton, but if I could I don't think I would be writing the type of email she is so obviously hoping for from the public.

I would remind her that by law the council are obliged to provide such sites and, like most councils, have avoided doing so until pressured by the Government. As I stated at the meeting in Holsworthy last month, all the old stopping places, often common ground, used in my parents and grandparents' day, have, over the years been made unusable by local councils, leaving gipsies and travelling people with nowhere to stop and being continuously hassled by the police.

I particularly dislike her sentence: "I would like my tax to go towards council houses for people who fit into and contribute towards 21st century society and not a fanciful pipedream." I, my family and all the gipsies I know have worked and paid our taxes all our lives and we would like some of that money used to benefit our own people and certainly not to people coming into this country, sometimes illegally, who have never contributed in any way but have taken and taken. I presume "the fanciful pipedreams" do not apply to her "friends of all nationalities, colours and religions" who come here.

Regarding the sarcasm of the £100,000 wedding for a traveller's daughter (which I haven't read of), does she not think there are any wealthy travellers, as well as wealthy non-travellers, and it is surely their business and no one else's what they choose to spend their own money on or is she suggesting the money would have had to have been obtained unlawfully?

I am amazed that after claiming to have 25 years experience of travellers' behaviour she still has such a bias and, in my opinion, in spite of what she says, such a prejudicial view of them. I would remind her that, as I said at the meeting, Romany Gipsies have lived in and around Holsworthy for over a hundred years and as far as I am aware have caused very little trouble during that time. One of the families has done a great deal of charity work and continues to do so. Most of us, I believe, are respected by the town's people. Also, I must add that the town's people have been a great support to our family through times of unbearable stress and grief.

Seeing as how Mrs Dunbar has 25 years knowledge of gipsies and travellers I wouldn't have thought she needs me, or anyone else, to explain the difference between gipsies and travellers.

I would also like to point out to Mrs Dunbar that many of our people now hold professional jobs in this country, we have doctors, teachers, firemen, bankers and lawyers amongst us and although we may not be travelling any more, we remember our roots and defend the rights of those of us who wish to continue to travel. We do not want to be treated as 'special cases' we just want what is due to us.

Many of our people have fought and died for this country which is something that a lot of people now living here will never do.

Lastly to Mrs Dunbar's 'am I prejudiced?' What do you think?

Clawton.