A HEIGHT barrier has been installed at Wellington’s Sports Centre to “deter unauthorised encampments” says Somerset Council.

The sports centre announced that the 2.1 metre barrier had been put in place on Monday, June 30.

A spokesperson for Wellington Sports Centre shared that: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to implement the height barrier with immediate effect.”

Sports Centre customers or delivery drivers in vehicles which exceed the heigh limit must now request site access by calling the office.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: “Our partners SLM operate the site and requested the installation of the height barriers to deter unauthorised encampments.

“These have been in place at Blackbrook and Wellsprings leisure centres in Taunton for some time now.

“Somerset Council is committed to finding a transit sites for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in Somerset to provide safe stopping places and reduce the number of unauthorised encampments, whilst implementing preventative measure like these.”

Located on Corams Lane, Wellington Sports Centre features a long-stay car park with 24-hour access, an area which has been used as an encampment site in the past.

In March 2024, the Wellington Weekly News reported that an encampment of eight caravans was parked on the Everyone’s Active site. There have been no reported visits since.

Concrete barriers are also in place at the entrance to the Beach Grove sports ground - which can be accessed via the centre’s car park - having been reportedly installed by the rugby club following an incident involving travellers several years ago.

In May 2024, plans were approved to develop traveller pitches off the A38 near Bradford-on-Tone to tackle the “unmet need for gypsy and traveller sites” according to the application.

The same month, Somerset Council announced they would be spending £125,000 on measures to deter encampments at Taunton’s Silk Mills Road park and ride.