New earth mounds that have been installed on a road in Beaconsfield to prevent travellers from parking on the grass have been criticised as looking like a “WWI trench” by an angry resident.
The mounds of earth, or ‘bunds’, have been piled on the grass areas near Beaconsfield Rugby Club on Windsor End as a deterrent to travellers.
An angry resident, who lives in Malthouse Square and did not want to be named, says the “unspoilt” area of the town that he loves now looks “stupid” because the mounds are too high.
He said: “Last year travellers parked there for around three weeks before being moved on.
“Now these huge piles of mud have been dumped there and some are about 4ft high. It looks absolutely ridiculous.
“You have lovely Windsor End and then you have this which makes it look like a WWI trench. I have known Windsor End for over 40 years and I love it because it is a nice, quiet part of the town and was unspoilt but now it looks so stupid.”
He also feels that residents should have been consulted on the plans before the “over the top” bunds were created.
Travellers on Windsor End in August 2015 - picture by @BOTRAinfo.
He said: “What they are doing to it without consultation is not right. They have just dumped tonnes and tonnes of earth on Windsor End and now it looks like a bomb site.
“They are just too high and I don’t think they will compact them down. If they were knee-high it would be fine. In Gerrards Cross they have smaller mounds and it doesn’t look too bad.
“I would rather have travellers park there once every ten years instead of these awful mounds.”
Earth bunds on East Common, Gerrards Cross. Picture by ARM Images.
Pete Foster, general secretary of Beaconsfield Old Town Residents Association, said the earth mounds in Beaconsfield are an ‘eyesore’ and could reduce parking in the area.
He said: “I think it is a sign of the times. A lot of people get up in arms when travellers move in and I think banking is the only option to prevent this.
“It is a bit of an eye sore at the moment but hopefully they will be made to look pretty. They look a bit iffy at the moment because they are new, but apparently they will be covered in top soil and grass.
“We can’t help wonder whether this is going to impact the rugby club and access for emergency vehicles at other times as this part of the Old Town does get a lot of parked cars during the week from local workers and shoppers alike.”
Richard Wells, a spokesman for Bucks County Council, has assured residents that the bunds will be compacted down.
He said: “The county council's gypsy and traveller service was asked to arrange for a deterrent to traveller incursions at Windsor End, Beaconsfield, which had happened in summer 2015.
“The service arranged for earth defences to be placed around the vulnerable green areas.
“These have now been put in place and will be compacted and grass seeded in due course.”
What do you think of the new earth bunds in Beaconsfield? Let us know by getting in touch - email stephanie.wareham@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 01494 755 096.
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