Safety fears should stop travellers
Angry residents say that travellers should not be allowed to stay in Newent because of health and safety fears.
Forest of Dean District Council officials, members of campaign group Southend Lane Action Movement (SLAM) and more than 150 Newent residents met on Monday night to discuss the unauthorised development of a caravan site at Southend Lane over the Bank Holiday weekend.
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The travellers have created 13 pitches, laid a hard surface and installed toilets and a cesspit at the site, which residents fear will bring health and safety problems.
A Culver Street resident said: “There are lots of environmental issues involved. We have recently had a sceptic tank put in and it was quite difficult to get the tank through and we have to get approval from the Environment Agency.
“I am concerned about the health and safety issues too because the sceptic tank or a cesspit would need building regulations and they haven’t had any kind of checks, which isn’t safe, it is a real health hazard.
“Children are on the site and in nearby houses and it needs to be made safe for everyone.”
For more on this story see tomorrow's Citizen
9 Comments
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by connor smith, minsterworth
Wednesday, June 10 2009, 11:59AM
“i bet the septic tanks installed are better than the locals, in particular the soakaways ,as keyway employees are groundwork professionals !!!”
by John, Newent
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 7:01PM
“According to the FoDDC they haven't broken the law. They may be in breach of the planning regulations. If they break the injunctions that have been issued then (and only then) will they have broken laws for which they could be prosecuted. The whole situation is undergoing due process and we must await the outcome.”
by Rastus, Highnam
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 5:08PM
“Jim, You obviously have not picked op the Slam ! leaflet that I received over the weekend ! IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE - THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW”
by Jim, Cliffords Mesne
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 3:40PM
“What's the problem here? WHy can't they stat at Newent? At least they're not in my village.”
by Jay, Newent
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 1:42PM
“Presumably if the site hasn't got approved building regs and permission from the Environment Agency they are all on site with the Clearway lorry checking things out as we speak?! The FoDDC must have acted by now, if the residents have raised concerns about the health and welfare of the site occupants. D'ya think??”