On Friday, Jack Lopresti MP went to The Tumps in Patchway to view the damage caused by the traveller camp. Thankfully they have now moved on but the damage will have to be paid for and Jack would like to work towards a solution that avoids a repeat of recent events.
In 2014 and 2015 when traveller camps appeared in Bradley Stoke, Jack spoke in Parliament asking questions about the legislation and powers available to local authorities. The Government believed that current laws were sufficient but their implementation differed between police authorities so Jack will be asking these questions again to see if anything can be done to ensure that the application of the law is not a postcode lottery.
After learning about Patchway Town Council’s experience evicting the traveller camp from their land, Jack will be writing to the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, Secretary of State for Justice, and the Home Secretary. Jack will also be arranging a meeting with the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable to handover the catalogue of complaints he received from constituents as well as those logged by the Town Council so that the police response can be thoroughly reviewed.