Peterborough Travellers’ site residents in council talks - Cambridgeshire

From the Peterborough Telegraph

Tensions between Travellers living in Peterborough’s Oxney Road caravan site and council officials have eased after a last minute meeting prevented demonstrations.

Oxney Road residents had threatened to block roads near the site on Good Friday after telling Peterborough City Council they were living in overcrowded, cramped conditions, and claiming maintenance work had not been carried out.

The protest was cancelled after clear the air talks were held the previous day.

However, the residents have said they will still carry out a protest later this month unless further conditions are met.

Jack Cunningham, representative for the Oxney Road Travellers site residents, said: “We held a meeting with the council, and decided to put the protest on standby, to give them a chance.

“We have given them two weeks. If the issues are not sorted out by then, then we will go back to square one.

“If things have not been sorted, there will be a rally of residents here.

“This is not a bluff, but we want to give them a chance.

“The ball is in their court. It is up to them with what happens next.”

The residents had threatened to protest after claiming work to repair fences and gates had not been carried out, a near-by field had not been cleaned and children’s play equipment had not been provided, causing a danger to youngsters.

Last week Mr Cunningham said council workers had not been allowed onto the site until residents’ concerns had been addressed.

A Peterborough City Council spokesman said further meetings would now be held to ensure issues are dealt with.

He said: “At a meeting on Thursday, March 28 between Travellers from the Oxney Road Travellers Site and representatives from the council, Enterprise Peterborough and the police it was agreed that all parties would work together to address the issues that have been raised about the site.

“A visit to Oxney Road will be arranged shortly where an action plan will be agreed. It was also decided that more regular meetings will take place to help solve long-term accommodation needs.”