Peterborough works to prevent illegal traveller camps welcomed

Residents living near Mancetter Square in Peterborough said their lives were made a misery when an illegal camp was set up on land off Lincoln Road earlier this year.

There were reports of human waste being left in the field, as well as noise and anti-social behaviour as the travellers stayed on the site for a number of weeks.

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Peterborough City Council have now started work to put an earth bund in place, as well as bollards.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I have thanked the council for doing something about it. There is light at the tunnel as this has been an outstanding problem for a number of years now.

“It is fantastic what they have done.”

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow agreed and said; “I am thrilled the Council are taking action. Unauthorised traveller encampments are not harmless. After travellers left recent encampments across the city, they left rubbish, industrial waste and even human waste. We need to stop these incursions through bollards and natural deterrents. Thumbs up to Peterborough City Council.”

A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said: “Additional bollards have been installed and works to install a bund are currently taking place and should be completed by end of the week. They are defence measures aimed at preventing future unauthorised encampments.“