Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has written to the City Council to urge them to act swiftly to reopen the transit site for travellers at Horsdean.
Simon said:
“With the summer now fast approaching, undoubtedly groups of travellers will return to the City looking for somewhere to stay. I am therefore concerned that the Council’s dedicated transit site at Horsdean has now remained closed for many months with no sign of being reopened, increasing the likelihood of unauthorised encampments at inappropriate sites, as recently witnessed on ground by the cemetery in Woodingdean.”
“I am therefore calling on the City Council to ensure the transit site at Horsdean is open again as soon as possible and to ensure that travellers wishing to stay in the City are directed to this site, rather than setting up camps in places like Happy Valley, Saltdean Oval and East Brighton Park as has happened previously.”
Simon concluded:
“Many residents continue to contact me about this issue and I am concerned that the City Council still does not have adequate plans in place to deal with unauthorised encampments satisfactorily. Local residents should not suffer inconvenience as a result of the Council’s failure.”