It's a column and it's for opinion - welcome back to the Opinion Column featuring a guest writer each week.

Here, Emily Brown from Orpington gives an alternative view on travellers who have been rife in Bromley over the past couple of weeks.

Want to get something off your chest in The Opinion Column? Email 300 words to simon.bull@london.newsquest.co.uk​

I began by asking myself why the arrival of a group of people worries us all so much.

An immediate reaction comes from our fear of ‘the other’, which can be traced back as far as civilisation began. The arrival of the unknown in a settled society provokes unrest and fears of an increase in crime and the local environment being buried under layers of rubbish.

Anti-social behaviour exists within all sections of our society. The vast majority of football fans today are relatively well behaved, however there will always be a small minority who behave appallingly and give all football fans a bad name.

This is the same situation for travellers. Some will treat the location and community they find themselves in with respect, and others will not - as is the case on any Saturday night in Bromley High Street, but these individuals, high on drink or drugs, are our own, rather than ‘the other’.

Most are likely to say that travelling is in their blood but want the opportunity to stay or move on as they wish. This is borne out by Bromley.gov.uk advising that travellers have traditionally passed through the area when work or family commitments demand. In this instance, it has been suggested that many travellers have arrived for a funeral.

Statistics reveal that roughly three quarters of people who consider themselves travellers have chosen to settle at permanent locations; and there are difficulties when travellers do wish to remain.

A rise in unauthorised use of public land is due primarily to a shortage in authorised settlement sites, a problem facing many councils - Bromley for instance has authorised space for just 72 caravans.

This is the situation which led the council to seek a High Court injunction. Many will go, preferring to return to the open road, but allow them the dignity to go of their own choice.

A final thought; given many former travellers have opted for a settled life, you may have such a family living next door but are unaware of their recent history.