Council Builds ‘Bunds’ To Prevent Traveller Incursions

Published on: 8 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 10 Aug, 2017

The newly erected “bunds” run the entire length of the green at Peasmarsh beside the Old Portsmouth Road and Broadford Road.

By Anna McGee

Earth banks or “bunds” have been constructed at Peasmarsh Common, by the A3100 Guildford to Godalming road, to prevent incursions by Travellers.

The recent addition of the 75cm (30 inch) banks of earth around the edge of Peasmarsh Common is to prevent vehicles being driven on to the the common land which forms a village green.

The earth banks have been dressed with topsoil and sprayed with a grass seed mixture which, in some areas, is already germinating.

The new ‘bunds’ are said to match other existing earthworks used throughout the borough. At a cost of £6,677, the new installation includes removable bollards put in place to allow council workers access to mow the grass.

One local resident complained that there was no planning application or advanced warning to residents of Peasmarsh that the works would be taking place. But a spokesperson for Guildford Borough Council said that they are entitled to carry out any works that protect the common land, without the need for planning permission.

Cllr Graham Ellwood

Cllr Graham Ellwood (Con, Merrow), lead councillor for licensing and community safety, said: “Following the recent large scale Traveller incursions in the borough the works at Peasmarsh were implemented in order to protect the area from possible occupation and damage.

“There is also the need to consider the potential significant costs that the council would have to incur from bringing legal action against any illegal occupation of the land, as well as the disruption that such an incursion brings to residents.”

Traveller incursion has been an issue in other areas of the county. Get Surrey have reported that a group of 60 caravans has recently left common land in Cobham after illegal occupation of the Leg O’ Mutton field for 19 days and that Send Parish Council is taking advice after a large group of caravans moved on to Send Recreation Ground on Thursday (July 27, 2017).

Provision of sufficient pitches for Travellers and Gypsies is an ongoing problem in Guildford Borough as it is elsewhere in Surrey and across the country. Local authorities are responsible for providing sufficient pitches according to set criteria and the current draft Local Plan includes a Traveller Accommodation Assessment for the plan period.

However planning applications for new sites and pitches are often contentious and  residents neighbouring proposed sites frequently raise objections.

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