Peterborough councillor ‘disappointed’ in time it took to take action against travellers

A number of caravans parked up on land at Mancetter Square on Lincoln Road at the beginning of the month - but action to move them on was only taken on Friday.

Despite being told to move on by 5pm last Friday - and a site with running water and sanitation being set up for them elsewhere in Potters Way, away from homes - some of the travellers remained at Mancetter Square this morning.

Today Paston and Walton ward councillor Nick Sandford said more needed to be done. He said: “The travellers have been on the land for about four weeks now.

“I have had a number of emails, as have my ward colleagues, from residents about the issue. There has been rubbish left on the land, and one woman has seen a man urinating in the bushes.

“I am disappointed it took so long to take action.

“The land has been used by travellers in previous years, and we have put fences and bollards up, but they have been broken or moved.

“We have had some success in the past with other methods - on the junction of Marholm ROad and Lincoln Road, there was land which often had travellers move on. The council put some prickly bushes in, and it seems to have made a difference.

“Putting security measures to stop travellers using the land is difficult, because we want to protect the green space for residents.

“If they are moved on, they will go somewhere else in the city.

“Other councils across the country seem to have got a grip on the issue, so we have to find a way. But it is a difficult situation.”

A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said: “The majority of the camp left over the weekend. We are working to identify where they have gone. Following contact with the travellers this morning the vans on the larger field are preparing to move shortly. Potters Way remains an option for them if they wish to use it.

“We are currently in discussion with the police as to how to move them on from the smaller field.

“Once the area is clear we will discuss with external agencies on how to improve the security measure.”

Last week the council said the current COVID-19 situation meant they had to make sure an area of land with sanitation and running water was available, and enforcement action could only take place once that was ready on Potters Way,

Any additional costs for services provided temporarily at Potters Way will be reclaimed by PCC from the Government’s COVID-19 emergency fund.