Residents of Wells in Somerset sound less than pleased at news that travelers are to receive interest-free loans of up to £50,000 from the local council to buy land on which to park their caravans. One resident, quoted in the Daily Express:

“I rang the council today, told them of my change of lifestyle by giving up my band E council tax home with four bedrooms, and intended to buy a Transit van with a four-berth caravan, giving up my job and going on state benefits and trawling for scrap."

Mendip Council claims it's a way of working with the travelers, and the Rat and Mouse would agree: it is a way of working with the travelers. And if anybody would like to offer the Rat and Mouse a £50,000 interest-free loan, that would be a way of working with the Rat and Mouse.

A closer inspection, however, of the arrangement makes it look slightly different... more like a limited rental period. Eventually the travelers part-own the land from a trust shared with the council. They can stay on the land indefinitely, but presumably, can't sell it for a profit.

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