Travellers given notice to leave Frome Cheese Showfield site - Somerset

From the Somerset Standard

Travellers who have moved on to a corner of the Frome Cheese Showfield have been told they must leave the site or face court action.

Up to six caravans, vans and cars have been parked on an area near the Cheese Show office, Frome Cricket Club and the Frome Collegians football pitch for a fortnight.

Mendip District Council, which leases the land from the Frome and District Agricultural Society, served an eviction notice to quit days after the travellers moved on to the land.

Welfare notices were also issued to ascertain whether anyone among the group was disabled, pregnant or had health issues.

On Tuesday morning an eviction notice was again served demanding the Travellers quit the site by tomorrow night.

The council's enforcement officer Ian Glover said: "If they have not left the showfield by the weekend then the council will go to the next stage which is through the courts."

It is believed that the Travellers gained access via the new health centre site which is under construction.

Graham Clark, president of Frome Collegians, said it appeared that the dug outs around the pitch had been used as a toilet.

Mr Clark said: "The pitch is a valuable asset that is well used and we do not want a facility for local children, that we have worked hard to achieve, being spoilt."

Mendip councillors Adam Boyden and Carole Bullen, who both represent College ward, said they had been contacted by a number of concerned residents.

Mrs Bullen said: "Residents living nearby are worried about the state the site will be left in when the Travellers eventually move on.

"Unfortunately, this is an annual problem and this particular group appear to cause mayhem."

No one from the police was available to comment.