Lib Dems call for protection of council land from unauthorised traveller encampments

2.02.00pm GMT Fri 2nd Nov 2007

Cllr Myrtle Stewardson and Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats want to see vulnerable council land protected from unauthorised encampments

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are calling on the council to protect vulnerable open spaces from unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments. Following the appearance of large numbers of unauthorised encampments across Bedford over the summer, the Lib Dems are demanding effective action to protect council land in the most vulnerable areas. At two council meetings this week, Liberal Democrats councillors are pressing the Mayor and his Cabinet to allocate the funding needed to put this protection in place.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Michael Headley asked the Executive to address the issue at its meeting on Wednesday. Commenting, Cllr Headley said:

"The experience we had in Bedford this summer shows that the council needs to do more to protect its most vulnerable open spaces from encampments. Every encampment costs the council a large amount in removal and clean up costs. It makes much more sense to prevent encampments appearing in the first place. '

"This is only one part of the action needed to stop the merry-go-round movement of traveller sites that we had this year. The council has said it will not be providing new permanent sites for travellers for at least two years, and so we have to be realistic about the scale of the issue and be better prepared to deal with encampments such as those that arose this summer. Bedford Borough Council must get serious about the problem of unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments, and it must start by allocating the necessary funding to put protection of its most vulnerable open spaces in place."

Cllr Headley's fellow Putnoe Ward Councillor Cllr Myrtle Stewardson says that protection of the most vulnerable sites within local communities is just one important step which needs to be taken:

"Barriers have been installed at Mowsbury Park and have certainly improved the situation. Where appropriate, we need similar protection at other locations where unauthorised encampments cause real difficulties. Local residents are rightly demanding a lasting solution to the problems that occurred over the summer, and the council needs to start providing it. "

At a meeting of the Corporate and Resource Policy Review and Development Committee on Monday, the Liberal Democrat Group proposed that the Executive also consider allocating capital funding for the next financial year for recycling participation in flats and mobile CCTV cameras. The group proposed additionally that the Executive consider providing money for youth activity areas, rural grants and energy conservation in 2009/10, when funding is due to cease in these areas. This call from the Liberal Democrats was repeated by group leader Cllr Headley at Wednesday's Executive meeting.