What happened at Whitegates in Wembdon recently is completely unacceptable.
An unlawful encampment occupied this popular local beauty spot for almost two weeks. When it was eventually vacated, 18 tonnes of waste were left behind, including sofas, washing machines and piles of rubbish.
Bridgwater Town Council was left to pick up the pieces, spending around £5,000 clearing the site so that local families, children and dog walkers could enjoy it again.
I want to thank the Town Council staff who worked hard to restore Whitegates. But they should never have been put in this position in the first place.
There are two separate issues here, and Somerset needs to get a grip on both.
First, when an unlawful encampment is established, the police and local authorities must act quickly and robustly. People should not be allowed to occupy land unlawfully, cause damage or leave tonnes of waste behind without consequences.
The overwhelming majority of people, whatever their background, understand that they cannot simply occupy somebody else's land or dump their rubbish and expect somebody else to pay for clearing it up.
There should be one set of rules, applied fairly and consistently to everyone.
That is why I support my party’s proposals to strengthen the powers available to councils and the police to deal with unauthorised encampments and trespass. Those responsible for enforcing the law need the tools to act, and they then need to use them.
But enforcement is only part of the answer.
Somerset also needs an appropriate dedicated traveller site.
The Liberal Democrats have now controlled Somerset Council for more than four years, yet Somerset still does not have a new transient site. Four years ago, the council received £1.46 million of Government funding towards a proposed site near Glastonbury. Residents are entitled to ask why, four years later, a site has still not been delivered.
The administration itself now accepts that more needs to be done. The question is why it has taken so long.
A properly managed site would provide somewhere appropriate for travellers who are moving through Somerset, while making it much easier to take firm action when people instead choose to establish unlawful encampments on parks, open spaces and other unsuitable land.
Providing an appropriate site and robustly enforcing the law are not contradictory positions. Residents should be able to enjoy their parks and open spaces without finding them occupied by unlawful encampments. Councils should not continually be left with substantial clean-up bills. And taxpayers should not have to foot the bill when people leave destruction and rubbish behind.
Somerset needs proper provision, faster action and stronger enforcement.
Above all, it needs one set of rules that applies fairly and consistently to everyone.
