Bridgwater Town Council has completed a major clean-up and restoration operation at Whitegates following the departure of an unauthorised encampment, with teams working intensively to return the site to a safe, accessible and welcoming condition for residents.
The clean-up operation began on Monday 17 August and involved significant resources being deployed to clear the site, repair damage and introduce enhanced security measures. Council operatives removed approximately 18 tonnes of waste, including household refuse, abandoned items and fly-tipped materials left behind following the encampment.
In addition to waste removal, work was required to address damage caused to the site and surrounding area. Repairs have been carried out to damaged infrastructure, while further measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of future unauthorised access. Specialist contractors were also engaged to undertake biohazard clearance and safely remove human waste left on site.
The unauthorised encampment was first reported on 4 August 2026. While Bridgwater Town Council is responsible for maintaining Whitegates, the land is owned by Somerset Council, which led the legal enforcement process. Somerset Council’s Enforcement Team attended the site on 11 August to serve the necessary notices and documentation, with a court application subsequently submitted following the arrival of additional caravans on 14 August.
Throughout the incident, Bridgwater Town Council worked closely with Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police and other partner agencies, whilst also responding to concerns raised by local residents regarding access, public safety and the deteriorating condition of the site.
The encampment resulted in environmental and infrastructure damage, including the cutting of trees and vegetation within the area. The condition in which the site was left required an extensive and coordinated clean-up effort to ensure it could be safely reopened and enjoyed by the local community.
The full cost of the operation is still being assessed and will include waste removal, biohazard clearance, repairs to damaged infrastructure, additional security measures and the substantial staff resources required during both the incident and subsequent restoration works.
Cllr Tim Mander, Chair of Bridgwater Town Council’s Amenities Committee said,
“This has been a significant operation involving many hours of work from Bridgwater Town Council staff and contractors to restore Whitegates following the unauthorised encampment.
“The amount of waste and damage left behind was extremely disappointing. Our teams have worked tirelessly to remove around 18 tonnes of rubbish, repair the site, address serious health and safety concerns and ensure the area is once again accessible for residents and visitors.
“I’d like to thank our staff, partner organisations and local residents for their patience throughout this process. While the legal enforcement process was led by Somerset Council, Bridgwater Town Council has committed considerable time, effort and resources to restoring Whitegates to a standard the community can be proud of.
“The scale of the clean-up highlights the significant impact unauthorised encampments can have on public spaces. Our priority has always been to make the site safe, secure and accessible again as quickly as possible, and we will continue to explore measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future.”