Travellers set up camp on former Frome Cheese showfield - Somerset

From the Frome Standard

A GROUP of Travellers have set up camp on the former Frome Cheese showfield despite measures being put in place to prevent trespassing.

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 the past few days and they are believed to have entered the field via the entrance to the Frome Medical Practice and the Cricket Club.

According to town councillor Adam Boyden (LibDem, Frome College) the last time a group of Travellers set up camp in 2012, there were reports of excrement left in nearby residents back gardens and the collegians pitch dug outs, antisocial behaviour and litter, which cost the district council in the region of £2,500 to clear, though that had not been confirmed.

He said: "I received calls and emails from local residents at the weekend to inform me that a group of Travellers had moved onto the old Showfield. I informed the landowners, Frome and District Agricultural Society (FDAS), Mendip District Council's enforcement officers and assets department (as leaseholders), Mendip's Cabinet members responsible, the Police, Frome Town Council, Frome Medical Practice, Frome Collegians football club, and other local councillors. Residents had also called the police, who attended the site quickly. Some residents are worried that their back gardens will be broken into and used as a toilet, as happened two years ago.

"After inspecting the site, it appears that the Travellers have gained entry by removing or breaking down the bollard between the health centre and cricket ground and I have informed the police of this."

Frome mother Sue Baker who walks the public footpath from the showfield to the Frome Health Centre regularly with her nine-year-old daughter Abie and their cockerpoodle dog Merlin claims they were nearly run over by a Transit van driver on Monday lunchtime.

She claims the van was being driven at about 40mph and she and her daughter were forced to jump onto the grass verge to avoid a collision. Mrs Baker has since reported the incident to the police, who are appealing for witnesses.

She said: "It was a frightening experience and it was obvious the driver had no intention of stopping. This is a public footpath used by a lot of families who go to the playground and by dog walkers and elderly people."

However since the incident yellow gates at the top of the Frome Cricket Club car park have been opened to give access from the Rodden Road end.

Mrs Baker added: "We were walking along a public footpath which should not be driven on. It would be like me deciding to drive my car through the Westway Precinct, it just wouldn't be allowed."

Frome police have said enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information on the driving incident is asked to contact them on 101.

Landowners FDAS declined to comment.

Mendip District Council said it was following the necessary procedure in order to secure the removal of the group.

A spokeswoman said: "Mendip District Council's enforcement officers are aware of the Travellers on the Frome Showfield site and the necessary process has been started to secure the removal of these persons. The police have been notified of the alleged damaged caused by the Travellers gaining entry to this site and are currently investigating."