A SOMERSET councillor has demanded urgent action after two people died at a traveller’s site in Frome.

The Pines residential site is situated on Berkley Lane at the north-eastern edge of Frome, north of the Commerce Park enterprise zone.

Cllr Adam Boyden, whose Frome North division includes the site, used a Somerset Council full council meeting to call for an urgent inspection of the site following the death of two of its residents.

The council said it was “investigating concerns” about the site, with Avon and Somerset Police stating that neither death is being treated as suspicious.

Cllr Boyden raised the issue when the full council met in Bridgwater on March 4, shortly after the authority voted through its annual budget.

He said: “I am very concerned about several verbal reports over the last year or more from residents and Berkley Parish Council about poor living conditions at a gypsy/ traveller residential site near Frome within my division.

“The concerns include reports of homes in disrepair, a lack of maintenance to basic services, environmental health concerns and unsafe conditions (such as damage to homes from vermin, a lack of street lighting or suitable surfaces for pedestrians), as well as alleged harassment and intimidation, and the imposition of high and increasing rents.

“All these issues would appear to be likely breaches of the site licence and the law, and within the council’s legal powers and responsibilities to address.

“There were two tragic deaths on site a few weeks ago, and I understand that several long-standing residents are desperate to leave and go onto the council’s social housing register.”

The Somerset Coroner’s Office confirmed the two individuals who died at the site were Sammy Lee Cooper, 34, and Megan Webb, 28.

Mr Cooper died on February 8 of “crush asphyxia”, while Ms Webb died four days later, with a preliminary cause of death (pending a toxicology report) of hanging.

The inquests into their deaths will be held on October 5 and September 29, respectively.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We’re aware of two non-suspicious deaths at this location in February. There has been no further police involvement.”

Cllr Boyden said he was concerned that the Pines has not been properly inspected for some time, despite requests from himself, fellow Frome North councillor Dawn Denton, the parish council and Frome and East Somerset MP Anna Sabine.

He added: “When will the council formally inspect the site to check compliance with the licence conditions and other legislation?

“What actions will the council take within the next month to address these concerns? Could the council purchase such a site, compulsorily or otherwise, and under what circumstances to improve the living conditions for residents?”

Cllr Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, responded that the council was looking into the problem and intended to carry out an inspection in the coming weeks.

He added: “The service is investigating concerns that we raised about the site in question, and an inspection is scheduled to take place later this month.