MADAM - I was appalled at the racist web comment from Saffer27 - this person obviously has little knowledge of Stroud.

Some years ago SDC granted planning permission for a site for local gypsies - these families still live locally, pay taxes, pay council tax, are respected members of the community and absolutely don't 'threaten decent people'.

The site at Brookthorpe still exists.

Today's 'travellers' - Irish, Roma, new age, any other groups of travelling people - are as respectable or badly behaved as any other people.

To describe any large group of people as 'nothing but trouble' is either stupid, ignorantly bigoted or downright racist.

The nonsensical idea that other residents should receive a 50 per cent rebate on their council tax if the traveller site is near their home just indicates how barmy the anonymous writer is.

Perhaps he/she should return to Surrey, where such idiotic complaints might be more welcome.

I am also quite unhappy that the SNJ printed this nasty letter.

Danny Stradling (Mrs) Stroud Editors Note: As I don't print anonymous letters I imagine you are referring to comments left on our website highlighted in the paper.

We don't publish racist or libellous letters, otherwise the letters pages and our website is an open forum for people to express their point of view as you have been allowed to do here.