Important information from Notts County Councillor Nigel Turner for Worksop South explaining what has happened with yet another illegal encampment at Farr Park in Worksop.
Local residents have suffered enough already and I asked a PMQ on this very issue on Wednesday. We will be changing the law so these trespassers can be criminally prosecuted and immediately evicted. In the meantime it’s important that we keep areas secure and prevent them from getting on in the first place.
"Nigel Turner:
Good afternoon,
Or in the case of local residents who live in the close proximity of the Farr Community Field, it's not such a good afternoon.
Many of you will already be aware that 'the travellers' returned last night and easily regained access to the field.
I have been down to the area this morning and have spoken to many residents about the situation and whilst down there the Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, Cllr Simon Greaves, arrived and categorically confirmed to me and residents that the land was owned by Bassetlaw District Council, therefore, it is their responsibility to resolve the situation.
Whilst there, residents pointed out to the Leader that the current security around the field was not adequate, proven by how easily they jimmied a couple of locks off a couple of barriers and easily gained access last night.
What became apparent, whilst stood there witnessing caravans leaving and re-entering the field, was the fact that a couple of strong, strategically placed staggered bollards would prevent these large caravans from accessing the field in the future, if they need to turn to access the field they need a very large turning circle.
Cllr Greaves agreed that we should work together on the issue, for the greater good of the community, however, when pressed would not commit to how quickly BDC would be able to move the travellers on.
There is a committed group of local people, you know who you are, who are circulating a petition, on-line and on the doorstep, local volunteers, including myself, have been asking local residents, to sign this petition, in support of presenting the said petition to Bassetlaw District Council, asking them to improve and install the appropriate security around the field, in order to prevent further encampments.
The criteria for signing is: you must be a resident of Bassetlaw and/ or coming into Bassetlaw for work or education purposes. Children can sign with no age restrictions as long as they understand why and to what they are signing.
This latest incident highlights the importance of the petition, currently around 400 individual people have signed on-line, however, I do know we have more than that, with signatures being collected on the doorstep as we speak. To enable presentation to Bassetlaw District Council, we need to hit 2,500 signatures, please sign the petition and support our campaign for a Safer Worksop.
The on-line petition can be found here: https://www.saferworksop.com/ and also for people who cannot access the on-line petition, listen out for the volunteers who are knocking on doors asking for signatures, alternatively call me on 07811 512763 and I will arrange a personal call for you to sign the petition, thank you.
Cllr Nigel Turner, Notts County Councillor for Worksop South."