On Wednesday 20th June, a group of travellers vehicles entered the Frome Showfield site through a gap between fencing near the construction site for the new Frome Health Centre. The travellers were quickly confronted by the site manager and a Mendip District Council officer, who stood in the way and tried to prevent access. I have heard that the travellers used threatening and abusive behaviour towards them and that Police officers attended the site and advised them to stand aside for their own safety. Several vehicles and caravans then entered the Showfield.

I have discussed this with Mendip officers, the Police, the Collegians, Frome Medical Practice, and local residents on site and by email and phone. Mendip District Council lease the showfield site from the Frome and District Agricultural Society (FDAS). The Council issued a ‘section 77 notice’ warrant to the travellers, and posted in on site, the very next day, to evict the travellers from the site, with a deadline of Sunday 24th June. A travelling fairground was also on site at the car park by the pavilion from Thursday to Sunday but had nothing to do with the travellers. The travellers remained on site, so Mendip was then requried in law to issue the travellers with Welfare Forms as a number of children are in the group.

Mendip have now issued a second ‘section 77′ warrant which requires the site to be vacated by Friday 6th July. If this is again ignored, I understand that Mendip will apply to the courts for an order to allow the council to remove the travellers.

Over the last week or so I have seen and had reports of travellers’ cars driving over the showfield, dumping of green waste, a number of fires being lit, and general rubbish left behind, as well as some damage to the Collegian’s football facility (missing items from dugouts, and damage to dugouts) which the Collegians are monitoring.

I would call for local residents to remain vigilant and to report any damage to the site, further dumping of waste (flytipping) or unacceptable behaviour such as driving around the showfield, burning fires, etc., to the Police (on 101 for Avon & Somerset Police) and to Mendip District Council on 01749 648999. I would also appeal for calm and to ask people not to be confrontational or intentionally cause trouble as there are children and small dogs (who are mainly under control and tethered) on site.

I have asked Mendip’s chief executive to discuss the issues raised by the appearance and entry of travellers on the showfield with the police’s district commander. I have also called for Mendip, the Police, landowner (FDAS), the health centre developers (Interserve, Frome Medical Practice) and Collegians FC, to cooperate and coordinate activities in order to ensure the travellers leave site as soon as possible and that the showfield is protected from any more people coming to site.

I will post updates on this site when I know more.

Useful phone numbers are:
– local Police: 101
– Mendip District Council: 01749 648999
– Frome & District Agricultural Society, Showfield office: 01373 463600

See here for Somerset Standard story on this – http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Travellers-given-notice-leave-Frome-Cheese/story-16485761-detail/story.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

As quoted on http://travellerspace-gypsyroads.blogspot.co.uk/