Thursday, 17 October 2013

Council responsible for chasing Travellers off land in Bury St Edmunds reveals it has just two pitches in St Edmundsbury - Suffolk

From the Bury Free Press

A council responsible for chasing Travellers off land in Bury St Edmunds, says it has just two legal pitches in the whole of the borough.


Legal representatives on behalf of St Edmundsbury Borough Council were due back in court yesterday seeking an order to force three remaining caravans off of Ram Meadow.

Other Travellers had left earlier this week. It was reported that they had moved onto Compiegne Way, but St Edmundsbury Borough Council said that this is not the case.

This week it emerged the council has just two authorised gypsy and Travellers sites in the borough - with one pitch on each.

Forest Heath by comparison has two sites with a total of 47 pitches, and Mid Suffolk 15 sites with 69 pitches.

A St Edmundsbury Borough Council spokeswoman said it is asking landowners to come forward with potential Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore has called for a county-wide scheme to end moving Travellers from one site to another.

“We have to comply with the law. Travellers have their own particular rights and they have to be respected. We have to have sites they can go to.”

He also made calls for Travellers to be responsible for costs in clearing up any litter and detritus found after they have moved on.

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