From Bedfordshire On Sunday
COUNCIL installed bollards to prevent Gypsies and Travellers have proved ineffective after a family set up camp on Goldington Green last weekend.
Bedford Borough Council put in bollards around the green years ago following a spate of illegal encampments, one of which was collapsable but locked with a key, and that same post was torn out by Travellers, giving them access to the field.
A spokesman for the Borough Council said: “Bollards were installed around Goldington Green in 2011 in order to deter unauthorised vehicular access and Gypsy and Traveller encampments. Bollards were chosen as the most sympathetic way of protecting the open space without damaging the views of the Green.
“It is necessary to allow access for grounds maintenance and emergency services and therefore one of the bollards can be unlocked and collapsed. The locking mechanism of this bollard was smashed and the bollard was ripped out of the ground. The bollard has now been replaced, strengthened and locked. Unfortunately, if persons are willing to cause criminal damage then nothing is fully secure.
“Bedford Borough Council immediately took action to clear the unauthorised encampment and an eviction took place by police on Wednesday morning.
“The bollards establish that the green is a protected area which gives greater weight to the case for moving any unauthorised vehicle or encampment of the site.
“Council staff have since removed several bags of rubbish and further litter from the area as well as removing a substantial amount of human excrement from hedgerows.”
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