Crackdown on transient groups
TREES AND BUNDS WILL BE USED AS NATURAL BARRIERS AGAINST ILLEGAL ENCAMPMENTS
NEWARK and Sherwood District Council has unveiled plans to end illegal encampment in the area following years of incidents.
Plans will see measures implemented to deter people from positioning camps on key sites across the district.
Instead, travelling groups will be directed to specifically allocated areas.
The council has identified 21 ‘at risk sites’ across the district, with 15 of them being owned by the District Council. Five have been confirmed as ‘high risk.’
High risk sites include: Sconce and Devon Park, Newbury Road estate, Thorpe Oaks open space, Cleveland Square and Thorpe Close play area.
Medium risk sites are: Clay Lane open space, Lincoln Road recreation ground, Mead Way open space, Sherwood Heath, Barnby Road play area, Autumn Croft open space, Riverside park play area, and Collis Close.
Low risk sites: Vicar Water county park, Dodsley Way open space, Lake View open space, Fleming Drive play area, Hawtonville housing office, Boughton open space,
Syerston Way and Cheshnut Avenue.
As part of a commitment to going green the council has stated that it will use bunds (earth mounds) as a natural barrier against illegal encampment.
The council has said that they had considered using bollards, barriers or gates to keep out travelling groups, but wanted to stick to the climate emergency agenda whenever possible.
Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “Let me make one thing completely clear, these measures are not targeted at our settled Gypsy and Traveller population with whom we have a working relationship and who play a hugely important part in our local community.
“These measures are to deter transient groups who set up illegal encampments in our residential areas.
“I have heard your frustrations over these illegal encampments and I am not prepared to stand by and let it continue anymore.
“Despite planting nearly 6000 trees over the last year alone, we know we need to constantly look at more ways to enhance our natural habits so, where possible, we will be looking to use bunds and tree planting schemes to form these natural barriers. However, it is absolutely important we get this right.
“We don’t want to plough on with measures that don’t compliment local areas.
“In the four key areas that require more extensive planning and design work, those at Sconce and Devon Park, Thorpe Oaks open space, Newbury Road estate and Thorpe Close, we are currently drawing up artistic visualisations with the support of specialist landscape designers.
“This will ensure that residents can see what schemes are being proposed as well as allowing us to apply for the consent required to carry out works on the site of Sconce and Devon Park which is a scheduled ancient monument.
“Watch this space because those visualisations will be available to residents shortly.”
Each illegal encampment has cost Newark and Sherwood District Council around £7,000 to move groups on and clear up after them.