Travellers are harming town

WHEN will Derbyshire Dales District Council realise the harm the travellers are doing to Ashbourne? I appreciate there are rules, laws and policies protecting the family from the sort of interventions that the council might assert on us normal tax-paying members of society, but they’re currently walking all over our political system and enough is enough.

I’ve heard and seen reports over the last few days of some very unsavoury behaviour at the unauthorised encampment at the leisure centre and I know of people who have stopped using the leisure centre because they’re worried they may have to park near the caravans.

This has got to stop. The council might be in a sticky wicket but a firmer hand is needed to ensure these town centre encampments cannot continue.

At the moment, for example, there is nothing to stop the family, when they are finally evicted, moving back to Fishpond Meadow. Why have the gates not been pad-locked? Why are the fences still up and the Portaloo still in situ? Seems like an open invitation to me.

I’m actually surprised they’ve not moved back to their summer residence on the QEGS playing field during the Christmas break. Again, nothing has been done to prevent access to that, from what I can see.

Where they choose to go next will be anyone’s guess. But it’s looking like Matlock Bath won’t be on their agenda. Bus station perhaps? Shaw Croft?

Preventative measures must be taken to ensure they have nowhere to go in the town centre. It’s not hard to do. And I doubt it would cost any more than it would to clear up after them. A little bit of forward thinking, please, Derbyshire Dales District Council.

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