Thetford Town Council considering extra security measures after spending more than £14,000 on unauthorised traveller camps

A council is considering installing extra security measures after spending more than £14,000 this year on unauthorised traveller camps.

Thetford Town Council has seen its costs double for dealing with the clean-up and evictions from land it owns this year.

Overall, since the start of 2024, it has spent £21,376 on protecting the sites, with the town clerk warning the authority is facing “excessive recurrence of encampments”.

Several incidents of travellers making encampments in Thetford were reported this summer, requiring the council to seek eviction notices to remove the groups from its land.

To tackle the problem, Thetford Town Council is considering ways to improve security at Upper Melford Common, Lower Melford Common and Mill Lane.

This would include installing fencing, ‘defensive landscaping,’ locking gates and other entry points.

Further options are to be considered following an investigation into how security can be improved.

Councillors will meet on Wednesday to discuss the report before making a decision on the action to take, which could include seeking external funding for the works.