Conservative Councillor for Highbridge & Burnham South John Cook-Woodman has challenged Liberal Democrat-run Somerset Council’s approach to unauthorised traveller encampments after a group was moved from Burnham’s seafront, only to resettle 600 metres away in the B&M car park.
At a recent Executive Council meeting, Cllr Cook-Woodman raised concerns on behalf of residents and traders who have faced weeks of disruption following repeated encampments across Burnham-on-Sea, including on the South Esplanade, Priory Gardens, and now Pier Street.
He said: “In Burnham-on-Sea, we have seen repeated unauthorised encampments, causing disruption to residents and to local traders, with concerns also raised about this Council's response. Can the Lead Member explain what is being done to address this issue of repeated unauthorised traveller encampments in Burnham-on-Sea, and what support is being given to local traders impacted?”
He also asked the administration to consider adopting a more robust approach, citing the example of Conservative-run Torbay Council, which uses a standing enforcement arrangement with contractors to enable the swift removal of unauthorised encampments, sometimes in as little as six days.
Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts responded by saying that Somerset Council follows the same legal process as other authorities but manages enforcement steps in-house, rather than outsourcing parts of the process as Torbay does.
She encouraged residents to report encampments promptly and highlighted that the Council has a webpage explaining the legal steps it must follow. She acknowledged the repeated nature of encampments across Somerset and said the Council is reviewing what physical protections could be put in place to better secure vulnerable sites, while maintaining public access.
In addition, she confirmed that she has asked for a task force to begin work on identifying a suitable transit site in Somerset and invited landowners or communities to come forward with potential locations.
After the meeting, Cllr Cook-Woodman said: “The current system clearly isn’t working. These encampments keep happening, yet the Council’s response feels slow and ineffective. Residents are rightly frustrated, and businesses are being impacted during one of the busiest times of the year.”
