Travellers voice safety fears over £2m Red Hill Nook site

Travellers claim a £2m, purpose-built site is fraught with safety problems.

Some were reluctant to move to Red Hill Nook in Leicester, which they labelled "the big brother site", after CCTV cameras were installed there.

Fresh concerns now centre around the safety of electricity cables, the outdoor water supply and the gravel pitches.

The council said it is responding to the residents' concerns.

The site on Red Hill Way opened in April, despite 1,500 objections during the initial planning consultation.

Carlym Quantrill, who represents the Gypsy and traveller community, said the CCTV cameras were "upsetting people deeply".

She said the outdoor water supply is "dripping permanently".

"There are electric sockets that are on the wall outside, which means there are electric cables running across the outside ground to the caravans," she said.

Residents claim they lose power when it rains because water leaks into the outside plugs.

Mr Connelly, who is assistant city mayor for housing, said electricians had confirmed the supply is safe and plumbers would look at the water supply.

"We wouldn't have spent £1.8m on Red Hill and Greengate sites if there were inherent safety problems," he said.

He said there are just two cameras working, which cover the entrance of the site and cannot spy into caravans. The CCTV will be reviewed after a year, he added.

"If we're of the opinion that it's not necessary we would look at removing them," he said.