Burnham-On-Sea Police have this week aired their frustrations at the difficulty of moving travellers camped in the area.
Several groups are currently pitched up in Burnham’s Pier Street car park and on a field in West Huntspill, with legal action underway once again to move them on.
Sgt Ryan Edwards from Burnham Police said during a Town Council meeting on Monday night (July 3rd): “The local traveller encampments remain an issue.”
“We are still working closely with Sedgemoor on a solution, but are often having to put resource into moving them on, often only to find them pitched up five minutes down the road, which makes a mockery of the whole process.”
“We are constrained by rights and laws, which I can’t do anything about.”
“I spent the whole of my Saturday morning moving them on from EDF land near Bridgwater, only to find them camped again nearby and then at Dunball the following night. We do the best we can.”
“It is a very difficult issue and we do recognise it as a force and are looking at ways to address it at a high level.”
“I do share local people’s frustration and know the impact it can have.”
“I am aware that the current encampment at the B&M car park is starting to have a local impact in terms of the use of various properties, which does push us towards more action.”
