Somerset Council has not set any target date for delivering a permanent transit site for travellers in the county, a councillor has confirmed.

Communities across Somerset have had to contend with numerous instances over the summer of travellers moving onto public open spaces – such as Stoney Furlong in Taunton, Parkway Park in Bridgwater and the South Esplanade in Burnham-on-Sea.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts admitted in early-August that these issues would continue until Somerset had a permanent transit site, and committed to setting up a taskforce to look into potential sites.

But Ms Smith-Roberts has now conceded that no firm deadline has been set for such a site to be secured and fully operational.

Councillor Tom Power, one of two Conservative councillors for Wincanton and Bruton, raised the issue when the council's executive committee met in Taunton on Wednesday (November 5).

He said: "At the [executive] meeting held in August, my colleague Councillor John Cook-Woodman raised a question regarding the ongoing issues related to unauthorised traveller encampments, particularly those seen in Glastonbury and Burnham-on-Sea.

"In response, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts stated that the council was being asked to create a task force to begin identifying a suitable transit site in Somerset and invited landowners or communities to come forward with potential locations.

"Could we please have an update on the progress made by this task force, including what improvements or developments have taken place since August and the expected timescale for the full implementation of a designated traveller transit site within Somerset?"

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Ms Smith Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, council housing, culture, equalities and diversity, said that numerous steps had been taken in the last three months to prevent unauthorised encampments on public land.

She said: "Site protection measures have been installed at the Silk Mills park and ride site [in Taunton] to reduce incidents at this location.

"An assessment of the BM car park in Bridgwater has been conducted to identify potential measures to reduce recurring incidents. Recommendations are currently being evaluated, taking both cost and effectiveness into account.

"We have also been engaging with the Burnham town traveller engagement group; we have reviewed security at the bay centre following encampment in 2024 and some improvements using concrete Lego blocks, and there were no encampment here in 2025.

"We are working with the group on costings for improvements to the Esplanade and Priory Gardens to take place over the winter."

Ms Smith-Roberts (who represents the Taunton East division) said that "constructive" discussions had taken place to provide a "temporary stopping place" for travellers until a more permanent solution could be found – and that the council could take a leaf out of Bristol City Council's book in this respect.

She explained: "We continue to explore options for establishing a temporary stopping place to support the effective management of unauthorised encampments across the county.

"Initial discussions with stakeholders, including the police, have been constructive, and early assessments suggest that a suitable location may be achievable.

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"At this stage, we are reviewing information to better understand the implications and requirements associated with potential sites.

"We are committed to ensuring that any proposals are thoroughly assessed and that community engagement is undertaken at the appropriate time.

"We have been engaging with officers and members of Bristol City Council to better understand the Bristol provision of 'meanwhile sites', which are the temporary use of land intended for development in the future.

"The Glastonbury town deal 'enabling project' may offer an opportunity to 'pilot' this approach in Glastonbury, and work is ongoing."

The 'enabling project' within the government-funded Glastonbury town deal intends to provide a new off-road accommodation site for the 'non-bricks and mortar' community in and around the town, providing people with a safe location and enabling other projects within the Beckery area of the town to proceed (such as the ongoing regeneration of the Baily's Buildings).

The council originally intended to deliver a new travellers' site on land north of Porchestall Drove, but this was scrapped in in July 2024 after the site "turned into a lake" twice in the space of one winter.

The council is now looking at alternative locations in and around the town, while Avalon Community Energy is seeking to build a solar farm on the Porchestall Drove site, as part of a separate town deal project.

Ms Smith-Roberts concluded: "As there is no current [permanent transit] site, we are unable to put timescales on this work."