The number of caravans and vans now permanently parked on the Downs continues to rise. Cllr Henry Michallat comments :
‘What the Mayor has allowed to happen is an absolute disgrace. It's a complete dereliction of his duty to residents. The Mayor has sat on his hands and the problem has escalated. The adverse impact on the Downs and surrounding areas is now massive.’
Cllr John Goulandris adds :
‘Henry and I have worked with the Mayor to identify sites for van dwellers, which have proper washing and toilet facilities. The Mayor should insist that all van dwellers use these sites and are no longer allowed to camp on the public highway. This can be achieved, as other local authorities have done, by passing a city-wide ‘no overnight camping’ by law.
Both Henry and John are shocked by the Mayor’s indifference to complaints from residents about van dweller anti-social behaviour, litter, piles of rubbish, gas canisters and even human waste dumped on the Downs. John and Henry comment :
“As the Mayor isn’t willing to face up to the problems he has created by his inaction, we have now written to our MP, urging him to intervene with the Mayor on behalf of constituents. We hope we will see tangible action as a result.”
