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A few years ago, whist serving as the councillor for Huthwaite, I was issued with a fixed penalty notice from Ashfield District Council for taking matters in to my own hands by preventing travellers returning to a car park on Chesterfield Road.

I hired a tractor, acquired two large concrete blocks and dropped them at the entrance to the car park.

The result was that the travellers did not return, and new security gates were fitted.

Yet again, travellers are setting up illegal sites in Ashfield and in my view the local politicians are doing very little to stop this happening.

Lee Anderson, Ashfield MP. Photo: London Portrait Photoqrapher-DAV

If this continues then be in no doubt, I will be getting the tractor out again and will take direct action to keep our parks and green spaces safe from damage.

Over the weekend, an illegal site has been set up in Selston and despite the council leader reassuring residents that they would be gone by Sunday they were still there on Monday morning.

Travellers have been giving local politicians the run around for the past two years and my thoughts on such matters have been well publicised.

Our parks are priceless, and particularly during lockdown, have been a relief for many residents who have used its open space to exercise and get out of their houses.

Ashfield MP ready to take matters into his own hands again over illegal travellers site