I was encouraged to hear that the Cabinet of Conservative-run Surrey County Council has formally approved the creation of a traveller transit site at Pendell Camp in Merstham.
Transit sites are an important tool in tackling unauthorised encampments, because the police can direct unauthorised encampments to relocate to them. This makes it far easier and simpler to address the real disruption and inconvenience that Elmbridge residents have experienced in the past.
In addition to this welcome local development, there is important work going on at the national level. Earlier this year, the Home Office announced that it would both create a new criminal offence and strengthen existing police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The necessary legislation is working its way through Parliament at the moment.
Together, these national and local measures will make a real difference to residents in Elmbridge and across Surrey.
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