West Berkshire Council reveals cost of 24-hour security at disused Burghfield traveller site

Four Houses Corner in Ufton Nervet – where PC Andrew Harper's killer was arrested in 2019 – has been under 24-hour guard, with dogs, for more than a year now.

Burghfield residents previously wrote to newburytoday calling the security service a "complete waste of taxpayers' money".

A Freedom of Information request has now revealed the total figure spent by West Berkshire Council on maintaining security at the site.

The overall payments for providing site management and security from January through to December 2022 is £224,962.36 — an average cost of £17,305 per month.

The district council previously stated it had "a duty of care to ensure the land remains safe and secure prior to the refurbishment".

It now added: "These security costs are integral to completion of the capital development works at the Four Houses Corner site and will be funded from council borrowing, and so will form part of the council's overall need to borrow to support its capital expenditure activities."

Site residents have been living in temporary housing since last year while the council oversees a major site refurbishment.

The council admitted the works have been delayed for various reasons and will resume later this year.