Councillors joined Nantwich residents to measure out Barony Park in a bid to speed up action and install perimeter protection.
Members of Friends of Barony Park were joined by Nantwich Town Councillors David Marren and Cheshire East Council Leader Sam Corcoran in the exercise.
Residents have called for perimeter barriers for five years to prevent unauthorised encampments which have left the town’s main public space out of action for weeks at a time.
Cllrs Corcoran and Marren armed themselves with measuring wheel, clipboard and site map and spent two hours, measuring, discussing options and talking with residents about effective and acceptable solution.
A Friends of Barony Park spokeswoman said: “I’m sure their site visit gave them a clear view of residents’ issues which will help them outline their proposals and the reasons why some may be more effective than others in areas.”
Residents say the perimeter of the park is about 1km, but 20% of that includes closely planted trees, lamp posts, sign posts, telegraph poles, BT boxes, bins, benches and flower beds.
Cllr Marren, who criticised Cheshire East Council for its lack of action previously, has previously called for the Barony Park to be transferred to the town council.
He said: “I’ve paid a price for speaking out about Cheshire East Council’s repeated failure to protect the Barony Park over the last 10 years, but I believe it will end up being worth it.
“My criticism initially was borne out of frustration of the council’s failure to act, but that is just the half of it.
“I don’t know what party politics were going on, but I know and residents know that Cheshire East Council had acquired planning permission for a travellers’ transit site at Cledford Hall, in a Conservative ward, and Conservative Portfolio holders strung residents along and delivered nothing and allowed vital planning permission to lapse and the Barony was repeatedly invaded.
“I know Cllr Corcoran shuffled his diary to be able to attend and I was impressed he did so.
“I anticipate a change of approach from Cheshire East Council that Nantwich residents will like and I thank Cllr Corcoran in advance and ask residents to be patient for a few months.”
Cllr Corcoran was positive but added: “It will take time getting a transit site, and the recent High Court case where the Judge refused to grant Bromley Council a five-year injunction that prevented people from occupying public space will make injunctions harder to get.
“Meeting with local residents on the site was really useful and we are looking into all options.
“Please be assured that there is a lot of effort going into trying to find a solution.”
Why not use a continuous mound of earth im a kind of wave shape? Troughs at 1ft high, peaks at 3 ft and about 3ft in width, & gates in a couple of places?