
Travellers return
There is a new illegal encampment of travellers in Gershwin Road arrived today
I have been to the site and reported it in. The Council officers are taking the relevant emergency action, and I will do my best to keep everyone updated.
One good thing though, the new defences put in place as a result of your Labour Councillors actions has prevented them accessing the park. Setting up by the side of the road is not so comfortable for them and the Police should be more inclined to move them on.

Cllr Kim Taylor
Brighton Hill Labour Councillor
Even worse being outside school gates
If the council had done a proper job in the first place we wouldn’t have a problem they solved the problem in Hatch Warren as usual the poorer neighbours Brightin Hill get half a job
The fact they are “roadside” and not in the park is because the defences we fought the council for worked in terms of stopping them getting into the park. Going forward we will have to see what we can do to defend the roadside area in a way that doesn’t stop walkers and others from accessing the park. It will be a lot less attractive to them to be roadside as they cant hide away. Once word gets around in the traveller community that the site isn’t as good as it was before they will stop coming. We have had police patrolling the area and I am waiting for another update from Council Officers.
I live opposite this I’m disgusted they are still there. They have not been moved quick enough. They are very loud at night,and this isn’t fair to people like me gettingup a 6am for work, aswell as children going to school. We were promised they would be moved today. The mess there already is ridiculous. And what annoys me most is that us council tax payers are picking up the bill as usual. I suggest when they the council clear and then put huge trees laying sideways along that area. 1 they cant get back on there. 2 the resident’s and local people can still use it. Playing with their children and children and parents cutting through to go to school.
Hi there, I do understand. As your local Councillors we have contacted the Council several times today and are pushing the Council officers hard to take action as quickly as possible, but there are legal processes that have to be followed if the travellers refuse to move on voluntarily. The defences we insisted upon around the park area have managed to protect the park but its clear more have to be put in place to stop them using the roadside verge. We have asked for increased police presence an both myself and Cllr McCormick attended last night and can confirm the police patrols were there, and at that point it was quiet. If there is an issue with noise at night please phone 101 and report it.
Cllr Kim Taylor
I was on site last night and they were leaving already. Gone this morning