Land banks The Meadows playing field are the best way of stopping illegal encampments on the site, says a city councillor – despite some residents opposing them.
The Meadows Recreation Ground, next to Victoria Embankment, has seen a huge rise in travelling community pitches setting up on the large grass area this year, says Labour’s Michael Edwards.
In August, council officials began action after taking a “clear view that more protection needed to be offered to the grounds”.
The officials set to work increasing the height of the banks at the perimeter of the grounds on Wilford Grove, to prevent caravans from being able to drive on them.
The work has been ongoing since, with the latest soil blocks, made from existing soil, being installed along the Bathley Street side earlier this month.
But some people have taken issue with the measures.
Former Old Meadows Residents Association member Margaret Spencer said: “I saw it the other day. It’s ridiculous. We were campaigning for years for proper railings or bollards around that field. None of what they’ve done so far is achieving what they want to achieve.
“I don’t know what’s in their head. There must be somebody sitting up there at the council house wondering what they can do next to make it look stupid. [They are] employed to think up these crackpot ideas. I’m very disappointed. It just seems absolutely stupid.”
Online, one person commented: “I have been coming down recently to walk my dog and noticed the mess of the fields. It’s horrible. I thought the Travellers had done it. This is the council’s handiwork? What are they thinking?”
Another said: “It’s an eyesore. There are better, safer ways than digging trenches. Bloody cheapskate council.”
But Councillor Edwards said: “What are the better ways? Cheapskate? You know where we are with the money. We’re managing the money the best we can.
“Fencing costs tens and tens and tens of thousands of pounds. If we thought they were beautiful, we’d have had (the mounds) done when the park was first created. But they’re a reaction to a problem, not a design feature. And they’ll grass over.”
But Ms Spencer, who is 85 and has lived in the Meadows all her life, says the cheapest solution “is not always the right solution”.
“You’ll end up paying more,” she said. “It’s like mending a heater which then breaks after a few years, when really you should replace it straight away. They’re throwing good money after bad.”
The move did not go to council as officers felt they were sufficiently empowered to do what was necessary, Mr Edwards said.
The bunds will not be wildflower bunds due to the difficulty of that to manage, he added, and that grass was seen as the more suitable option.
Mr Edwards says there have been 10 attempts this year by Travellers to camp on the site, up from just two last year.
Since the installation of the trenches, there has been just one attempt, whereby Travellers followed an event organiser onto the site before being evicted by police.
“The public have had concerns and people have been distressed by it,” he said. “Physical measures to stop people driving their vehicles onto the park have been put in. These are the simplest, most effective ways of doing it.
“It’s a demonstration of people responding to what they see as a significant problem for the neighbourhood.”
Councillor Edwards said neither he nor fellow Meadows councillor Eunice Regan had had any direct complaints about the measures.
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “The banks of the playing fields at Victoria Embankment have been raised to deter unauthorised vehicle access onto the site.
“The work was organised and carried out by Council and involved moving and compacting the earth up to the perimeter of the playing fields. It is hoped that this work, alongside security bollards, will prevent unauthorised vehicle access in future.”
