A hundred thousand Irish people live in the borough of Brent in north London but there is no home for the hundreds of Irish Travellers who wish to settle there.
Each time the council propose a location for a Traveller site local residents have objected. In the mean time Travellers are settling where they can.
In October 1986 the council finally agreed on two sites, one of them at Fryent Way. However, Environment Secretary Nicholas Ridley stepped in to stop the development until a full report was drawn up. Travellers have been living at Fryent Way without sanitation, running water or refuse collection.
Richard Crowley gets the views of the Travelling community living at Fryent Way and members of the local council.
This report for 'Evening Extra' was broadcast on 11 December 1986. The reporter is Richard Crowley.
