Somerset Council has quietly removed £109,000 from its capital budget that had been earmarked for establishing a new travellers' site near Taunton. This funding originated from Taunton Deane Borough Council’s earlier capital allocation to create a temporary transit site for gypsy, Roma, and traveller communities passing through Somerset. The aim was to reduce unauthorised encampments on public green spaces.
When Somerset Council was created in April 2023—replacing the county and district councils—the funding was carried over into its capital programme. However, council officers later admitted the money was removed amid a broader financial review, citing the failure to identify any viable site for the facility.
Councillor Simon Coles (Liberal Democrat, Taunton East) voiced long-standing concerns about the lack of designated traveller sites, emphasizing that the absence of provision leads to regular unauthorised encampments on local parks, such as Victoria Park. “If we don’t provide a site, we can only expect continued incursions into our parks and open spaces,” he said.
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Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey (Independent, Taunton South) recalled attempts to purchase land for a travellers’ site met with resistance from landowners. She described the difficulties as rooted in prejudice, noting, “As soon as anybody got wind that we were looking at land for a travellers' site, nobody would sell us the land.”
Chris Hall, Somerset Council’s executive director for community, place and economy, clarified that the £109,000 was not a government grant but council borrowing approval. He confirmed the sum was removed from the capital programme during a financial emergency review, stating, “It’s not that we have the money and are not spending it – it’s that we don’t have it.”
The council currently manages three dedicated traveller sites through Elim Housing: Chubbards Cross near Ilminster, Marsh Lane near Yeovil, and a small site at Pitney. Plans to establish a new travellers’ site on land north of Porchestall Drove were withdrawn in early 2024 due to flooding concerns. A later proposal for a solar farm on that site was also rejected.
Somerset Council recently acquired a new, undisclosed site and expects to submit a planning application later this year. Glastonbury Town Council has expressed willingness to consider using some of its land as a temporary transit site.
A council spokesperson reiterated that despite years of effort, no deliverable travellers’ site has been identified. They confirmed the £109,000 fund was funded by borrowing approval from the former Somerset West and Taunton Council and was removed due to the absence of a feasible scheme.