Glastonbury residents are calling for action over a rise in caravans and makeshift camps appearing across the town, as MP Sarah Dyke highlighted the lack of authorised Traveller sites in Somerset during a recent Westminster Hall debate.

Locals have reported antisocial behaviour, littering, and even public defecation as unauthorised encampments continue to spring up in the area.

Residents say they are fed up with the increasing number of camps appearing on fields and roadsides, accusing those staying there of damaging the local environment and ignoring basic hygiene.

Richard Hill, a Glastonbury resident, described the situation as "unbearable." He said: "It was beautiful here until this mob of hippy thugs arrived. Now we have to watch them defecate in fields right in front of our home and leave trash everywhere. It's not just an eyesore – it's a health hazard."

Sue Hazlewood, 70, a long-time local resident, said: "They just leave their caravans here when they move on. It's a burden on the council to clean up, and we're the ones paying for it."

In response to growing tensions in Glastonbury, local MP Sarah Dyke raised the issue of unauthorised camps during a debate on planning policy for Traveller sites in Westminster. Ms Dyke, who represents Glastonbury and Somerton, criticised the lack of provision for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across the county, warning that it leads to illegal encampments and exacerbates tensions.

Speaking during the debate, Dyke said: "Somerset, like most of the country, is facing some huge challenges with properly supporting our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Whilst this community is naturally transient, they need access to transit pitches. Somerset has no transit provisions—none at all.

"The only way members of the Gypsy and Traveller community can stop when passing through our sizeable county of Somerset is in the form of an unauthorised encampment. We only need to look at my casework to see that such encampments inflame tensions between my constituents and Travellers—some of whom are, of course, my constituents—and reinforce dangerous stereotypes."

Dyke called for the government to provide more consistent funding to local authorities to create both transit and permanent Traveller sites, arguing that this would help avoid conflicts between residents and Travellers. "Not only do we need more transit sites; we need permanent pitches where members of the Gypsy and Traveller community can stay longer than just three months," she said. "If we expect local authorities to be able to maintain a constant and consistent number of sites, we must provide them with consistent and adequate funding."

Dyke went on to criticise the current funding model, describing it as "inadequate" and "oversubscribed." She said councils are left with the cost of cleaning up after unauthorised encampments and dealing with complaints from frustrated residents. "Councils could avoid huge additional costs if they did not have to waste officer time dealing with complaints and cleaning up encampments," she added.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: 'Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police do work together with landowners and our communities, as necessary, to tackle anti-social behaviour when it's reported. 

'Over the past five years much work has been done by the council and partners, and this continues, funded by the Town Deal, a Government initiative. It includes: 

• Support for roadside and vehicle dwelling communities, including housing advice. 
• Working towards development of a traveller site or sites both permanent and transit, as an Enabling Project in the Town Investment Plan. 
• Where necessary, Highways schemes on the roads around the Tor to prevent overnight parking an unauthorised encampments, as well as enforcement on the site of the Zig Zag building and neighbouring trading estates.' 

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We work closely with Somerset Council, landowners and communities to tackle anti-social behaviour in Glastonbury. We urge people to report any incidents either to the council or the police.'

As the debate over Traveller sites continues, Dyke has called for the government to support Somerset Council in delivering more permanent and transit sites, which she believes would reduce tensions and benefit both the Traveller community and local residents.