Tighter security to stop Travellers - Somerset

From the Bristol Post


SECURITY at parks and recreational areas across North Somerset could be upgraded in a bid to stop Travellers setting up illegal encampments.

Council officers are investigating how open areas across the district can be better protected to stop convoys from moving onto them.

The move follows mounting concern about an increase in the number of illegal encampments, particularly in Weston-super- Mare, this summer.

A group of around 20 Travellers caused problems in the town after first setting up camp at The Campus in Locking Castle at the end of May before moving on to four other sites, Scot Elm Drive, the town's former airfield, Hutton Moor playing fields and Locking Road car park, over the past month.

Although they eventually moved on another group then arrived in the town, also setting up camp on the grass verges at Scot Elm Drive.

The investigation will look at what preventative measures can be put in place to stop the groups getting onto the land in the first place. These could include new, stronger barriers at the entrance to parks and open spaces, bollards or landscaping.

North Somerset Council deputy leader, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "We are looking to increase security and investigate ways of how we can improve our defences to stop Travellers getting on the land.

"However it is not always easy to stop these encampments, as recently we had a group who apparently sawed through the hinges on a steel gate in order to gain access to the land, as they couldn't saw through the padlock as it was security protected."

So far this year Traveller encampments have cost the authority more than £2,000 in court and clean up costs.

North Somerset Council has to provide up to 60 new pitches in the district by 2016 in addition to the six council-run and a number of privately-owned pitches in the area, to cope with a growing Traveller population.