Council commits to clear-up operation on site of former travellers’ encampment in Northampton

A decision has been made on who will take responsibility for the clear-up of extensive fly-tipping on the site of a former travellers’ encampment in Northampton.

Travellers set up camp on private land off Banbury Lane in the Hunsbury Meadows area in August last year.

The site was evicted at the beginning of October after complaints from Pineham Lock residents about children throwing stones and glass bottles, littering and anti-social behaviour.

Large amounts of rubbish including fridges, gas cylinders and building materials were left behind after the eviction and have remained on the site ever since.

Following December's heavy rainfall and flooding, the rubbish has deteriorated further.

After much discussion, it has now finally been decided who will take responsibility for the much-needed clear-up operation, following a meeting between Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire Police and organiser, county councillor for Sixfields, Pinder Chauhan.

Councillor Chauhan said the result of the meeting was that Northampton Borough Council agreed to take on responsibility for the clear-up, which will be completed once the ‘weather allows it’.

The matter was discussed further at Hunsbury Meadows Parish Council meeting on Wednesday night (January 6).

Taking to Twitter after the meeting, Councillor Chauhan, said: “I am happy to report following a meeting I arranged this afternoon between @NorthamptonBC @NorthantsPolice that NBC have committed to clearing up the #pinehamlock land, once the weather has cleared.

“The @HunsburyMeadows chairman and myself will be on site next Monday with NBC officers to identify areas that need urgent clearing from the Wootton Brook.

“The issue has been extremely complicated to sort out and I would like to thank the residents for their patience and support.

“I have requested that meetings are arranged every three weeks to monitor progress.”

Cllr Chauhan clarified that the cost of the clear-up paid initially by the council would be ‘recouped from the land owners’.

She also added on social media: “If it is left there it is becoming a bigger issue and will cost even more to clear.”

Resident have praised Cllr Chauhan and the relevant authorities for their work to find a solution for the clear-up.

A Northampton Borough Council spokesman said: "As there are still issues at the site with large amounts of fly-tipping not having been removed, we have taken the decision to use our environmental contractors to clear it and will look to recharge the landowners for this work."

Further information about the clear-up is expected from the council in the next week.

The council has also sought a High Court injunction to ban travellers from setting up camp on the land again.

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