County Councillor Neil Clarke has called upon Nottinghamshire County Council to take swift action to remove the unauthorised encampment in Newton, which sits in his Bingham West Division.
On Sunday (20th September), caravans and trucks arrived on Newton Lane, an area which has seen frequent traveller activity over the last year.
Cllr Clarke said that this is ‘leaving residents in Newton fed up and wondering why the County Council has not yet taken the action it promised.’
Cllr Neil Clarke told The Wire: ‘I cannot believe that yet again we are in this situation.
“I have been pushing the County Council to install the preventive measures I asked for months ago, which would protect Newton Lane from these illegal encampments.
“After my continued lobbying I am told some measures were due to be installed this week, but that’s a week; and really a year too late.’
Cllr Clarke says that ‘the Reform-led Administration at Nottinghamshire County Council has refused to install the ‘trench and bund’ measure’ that Cllr Clarke has asked for, but they have agreed to install bollards to prevent vehicles driving on the land.
Councillor Clarke says that he has already spoken to senior officers and demanded that legal action is taken to serve notice on the travellers to leave immediately.
Cllr Clarke added ‘We had a previous incident earlier this year when papers were not served correctly with the courts, which caused a delay, and I have made it clear this can not happen again. My residents are fed up and want permanent solutions in place, and I will continue to push the County Council to ensure the bollards are installed promptly.’
