Hereford councillor, Chris Chappell, is calling on Herefordshire Council to introduce vehicle height restrictions at its car parks. This comes after travellers recently occupied a city site over the weekend.

More than a dozen caravans started arriving at St Martin’s Street car park, and caravans occupied Merton Meadow overflow car park shortly afterwards.

It is the second time in recent months that travellers have occupied the Southside site and Cllr Chappell wants Herefordshire Council to prevent it from happening again.

Cllr Chappell said: “Travellers have once again encamped illegally at the St Martin’s Street car park. Many more than a few weeks ago.

“I have asked the council to erect height restrictions at this car park and at Wye Street but so far it has been refused.

“I know there are height restrictions at the Holmer Road leisure centre car park and at Ross.”

Cllr Chappell said that the restriction would not prevent schools from accessing the sites with buses because they could be supplied with a key which would allow them to lift the height restriction.

He also suggested that residents are often subjected to abuse or harassment, as was witnessed when they parked in the Wye Street car park last year and more recently at St. Martin’s car park a few weeks ago.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said that they were aware of an unauthorised encampment at St Martins and Merton Meadow overflow car park. The spokesperson explained that a height restriction barrier could only be installed at a car park which prohibits large vehicles.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.