Travellers 'must have temporary site on edge of city' - Cambridgeshire

From cambridge-news.co.uk

The travelling community is being “failed” because sites are not provided in Cambridge, it has been claimed.

A number of caravans have parked up on a charity’s land for the third time, sparking a debate about provision for Travellers.

At least three caravans arrived at the site after a large concrete block was moved out of the way and a “heavy duty” lock cut from gates to the disused site in Wadloes Road last week.

Cllr Richard Johnson, Labour representative for Abbey ward, said the city council was “failing” these members of the community.

He said: “The city council has consistently failed to provide a temporary travellers’ site.

“There needs to be more sites on the edge of Cambridge which would enable easy moving on, as well as access to Addenbrooke’s.

“If we can secure a temporary site, it would nip this problem in the bud.”

At present the city has no temporary sites.

Alan Carter, head of strategic planning, said investigations had been carried out to find pitches but it was not easy to find somewhere suitable.

He said: “In an urban place like Cambridge it is quite difficult to find suitable pitches. It’s not without the want of trying.

“We have carried out assessments of needs over the years and although there are instances of unauthorised encampments, there doesn’t seem to be a large number compared with our rural district colleagues.”

Mr Carter added the council was continuing to look for sites, whether permanent or temporary, as part of its local planning review.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the firm which represents the charity which owns the land in Wadloes Road, said: “A court sheriff is going back to tell the Travellers they are not allowed on there.

“We had to get a possession order last time this happened and they then left.

“This will cost the charity money to get rid of them and they always leave filth and mess.”

Earlier this month, caravans set up camp on Cambridge City Council-owned land in Robert Davies Court, East Chesterton, for the eighth time, and the council had to get an eviction order and bailiffs to remove them.