Common’s anti-traveller bund branded an eyesore

A bund, standing three feet high, stretches around the edge of the grassed area and cuts the common in half at the junction of the A40.

Both parish councillors and people living on the common agree that defences are needed to prevent travellers moving in.

However, householders on East Common are dismayed with the methods used to stop unwanted camps.

One resident, of St Huberts Cottages, has organised a petition in the Best One shop in the village.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said: "In just two days, more than 130 local residents signed the petition. The bund has ruined the open aspect of the common and still leaves a large area available for a traveller invasion.

"With a soon to be opened Tesco store, the rapid increase of apartment building and the extra traffic that will ensue, we must take every step to conserve the open areas of the common. This is why residents feel so strongly about the removal of the bund."

West Common in the village already has defences, a series of posts have been in place since travellers camped there twice.

Cllr Gillian Underwood, the outgoing chairman of the parish council, lives in East Common and is torn between wanting to preserve the area and being able to safely keep travellers out.

She said: "I fully understand their point of view, but we have to have anti-travellers defences.

"I myself live on East Common and having seen what they have done to West Common before, we do not want them here."

She added: "Both of the posts and the bund as solutions are pretty awful, but we have to be realistic in this kind of situation."

Cllr Underwood confirmed that the council will meet and discuss the issues surrounding the part of the bund which cuts across the common and will talk about alternatives.

She said: "The defences do work, but as a parish council we feel obligated that we must listen to the residents' views."