Peterborough MP calls for urgent meeting as Travellers arrive at Bretton Park in Peterborough

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow has called for an urgent meeting to come up with a comprehensive strategy on preventing travellers from breaking onto public areas in Peterborough after a group arrived at Bretton Park.

It is believed that the group arrived at the park overnight on Monday and into Tuesday (June 27). It is not yet known how they gained entry to the site but a height barrier was put in place after previous encampments at the site.

Cambridgeshire Police officers visited the site on Tuesday morning to conduct an assessment of the area, while Peterborough CIty Council has confirmed that it will be serving a Section 77 eviction notice on the camp later today.

Encampments were seen on the park in both April and July last year, causing the cancellation of a number of Easter events.

Groups of travellers have also recently been moved on from Werrington, where Mr Bristow called for action from the police but was left frustrated with the response before the council took action to move them on.

In a letter to the council Mr Bristow said: “I am becoming increasingly frustrated with these illegal campsites popping up across our city, only to move on to another illegal site down the road a few days later.

“I have raised this issue with the Police multiple times but it seems my concerns are falling on deaf ears.

“I will of course, again ask them to take decisive action.

“A few weeks ago I stated we must not become a soft touch for things like this in Peterborough but it is becoming clear that we are already seen as easy pickings.

"To this end, I am requesting we have an urgent meeting to come up with a comprehensive strategy on preventing travellers from breaking onto public areas across Peterborough.

“I want to identify hot spots for these types of illegal encampments and make sure we implement the necessary protections to prevent this from reoccurring.

“We must do something about this sooner rather than later.

“The people of Peterborough deserve better.”

A Peterborough City Council spokesperson, said: “Health and welfare was carried out by our officer earlier this morning and we are going to be serving the Section 77 eviction notice later today.

“Police have advised that they have been out to visit the group this morning and will continue to monitor and engage with them.”

Bretton Community Festival is due to take place at the park on Saturday (July 1).