By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby
A Frome councillor has demanded urgent action after two people died at a traveller’s site in the town.
The Pines Residential Site lies on Berkley Lane at the north-eastern edge of Frome, north of the Commerce Park enterprise zone and a short walk from a planned development of 360 homes.
Somerset Councillor Adam Boyden, whose Frome North division includes the site, used a full council meeting to call for an urgent inspection of the site following the death of two of its residents.
The council said it was “investigating concerns” about the site, with Avon and Somerset Constabulary stating that neither death is being treated as suspicious.
Cllr Boyden raised the issue at a recent full council meeting. He said, “I am very concerned about several verbal reports over the last year or more from residents and Berkley Parish Council about poor living conditions at a gypsy/ traveller residential site near Frome within my division.
“The concerns include reports of homes in disrepair, a lack of maintenance to basic services, environmental health concerns and unsafe conditions (such as damage to homes from vermin, a lack of street lighting or suitable surfaces for pedestrians), as well as alleged harassment and intimidation and the imposition of high and increasing rents.
“All these issues would appear to be likely breaches of the site licence and the law and within the council’s legal powers and responsibilities to address.
“There were two tragic deaths on site a few weeks ago and I understand that several long-standing residents are desperate to leave and go onto the council’s social housing register.”
The Somerset Coroner’s Office confirmed the two individuals who died at the site were Sammy Lee Cooper, 34, and Megan Webb, 28.
Mr Cooper died on 8th February of “crush asphyxia”, while Ms Webb died four days later, with the preliminary cause of death (pending a toxicology report) being hanging.
The inquests into their deaths will be held on 5th October and 29th September, respectively.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said, “We’re aware of two non-suspicious deaths at this location in February. There has been no further police involvement.”
Cllr Boyden said he was concerned that the Pines (which was sold off by Somerset County Council in 2012) has not been properly inspected for some time, despite requests from himself, fellow Frome North councillor Dawn Denton, the parish council and Frome and East Somerset MP Anna Sabine.
He added, “When will the council formally inspect the site to check compliance with the licence conditions and other legislation?
“What actions will the council take within the next month to address these concerns?
“Could the council purchase such a site – compulsorily or otherwise, and under what circumstances – to improve the living conditions for residents?”
Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, responded that the council was looking into the problem and intended to carry out an inspection in the coming weeks.
Somerset Council was approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service regarding the timing of the inspection but it declined to provide any additional comment at this juncture.
