Cornwall Council’s Cabinet members have aired their concerns about the “occupation” of a playing field by travellers earlier this month, writes Lee Trewhela, Local Democracy Reporter.

It discussed residents concerns about an unauthorised travellers’ encampment on a playing field in Truro.

Cornwall Council’s Conservative Cabinet was questioned at a meeting this week about a group of travellers who moved on to the area used by children.

Councillors were asked: “What actions will the council take to ensure that this cannot ever happen again?” A group of between 20 and 30 caravans had parked up at the Tregurra Park and Ride on the outskirts of Truro until they left at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, July 9 and moved to Tremorvah Playing Fields, just over a mile away in a residential area of the city next to the magistrates’ court.

The travellers moved to a new location on July 15 but left rubbish and human faeces on the popular playing field.

During the Cabinet meeting at County Hall / Lys Kernow in Truro on Wednesday (July 24), three concerned members of the public asked questions concerning the incident.

Mrs C Carnachan asked: “Why were they able to access what is essentially a children’s play area. Children who are gaining confidence walking to school alone in Years 5/6 walk through this area to gain confidence before stepping up to secondary school. We were attacked by seagulls due to the mess.”

Paul Caruana added: “Travellers recently used and abused Tremorvah Play Field in Truro. They left excrement, lots of litter and truck loads of tree cuttings in the field. Why aren’t they liable for the damage they do and clean-ups that have to occur once they have departed?”

“The ‘occupation’ of Tremorvah Playing Field by the travellers recently has been a deeply upsetting experience for all people whose houses back onto the site. The noise, rubbish and intimidating behaviour made our lives a misery. What actions will the council take to ensure that this cannot ever happen again?” asked Truro resident Mr G Mundy.

Cllr Carol Mould, the Cabinet’s portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, responded that Cornwall Council became aware of the unauthorised encampment on July 10. “It was clear from the information received, the occupation of the land was the cause of considerable concern for the local community,” she said.

It was soon determined that the land was owned and managed by Truro City Council and therefore any decisions regarding the future of the occupation of the land rested solely with the city council. Cornwall Council provided advice and assistance to the city authority.

Cllr Mould said: “I completely understand the concerns raised and the questions asked of this Cabinet in regard to returning the site to its original condition and preventing recurrence. In this case, any such costs would have been met by Truro City Council alone as there are limited legal mechanisms available in these circumstances to recover the costs.

“Private spaces such as Tremorvah need to be easily accessible to the public. However, this accessibility often makes those areas susceptible to unauthorised access and occupation. Given these challenges, any action to restrict further access and occupation would be a decision for each individual landowner to make on a case by case basis.”

During the same meeting, Cabinet members signed off a new Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy, which aims to provide more support for the minority group by improving health, wellbeing and education for its members.

“The development and delivery of the strategy presented today is a clear opportunity to start to work with a deeper understanding of the challenges and inequalities faced by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. The ambition in time is to seek to improve the relationship between that community and the wider communities in Cornwall,” added Cllr Mould.