CORNWALL Council needs to “get a grip” over a growing encampment within the grounds of the council’s own headquarters in Truro, according to one of its own councillors.

Self-styled Gypsy Neil Wainwright has been living in a double-decker bus in a staff car park at Lys Kernow/New County Hall on Treyew Road after being moved there by the council three years ago. The site has grown to include a portable toilet, a fenced-off area and a large building which appears to have been created using wooden pallets and tarpaulin. The double-decker was originally parked next to homeless pods, but they were removed earlier this year.

It is now adjacent to a community orchard and the Newham Trail, which underwent a programme of resurfacing and upgrades as part of a £1.8-million package via European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grants and Cornwall Council contributions to create the Truro Loops green travel route across the city. However, dog walkers, runners and cyclists starting or finishing the trail are confronted by the ‘encampment’ and complain that it has become an eyesore.

Mr Wainwright was parked in Glasney Road in Old Hill, Falmouth, for four years after refusing to move into a two-bedroom council house in that street. Residents continually complained about the bus’ presence and expressed safety concerns as Mr Wainwright was feeding electrical cables into the bus from his house.

The bus was towed to Lys Kernow in July 2023 and parked sideways across several bays in a staff car park behind the council offices. Cllr Dulcie Tudor spoke out against the council moving Mr Wainwright and his bus – which Cornwall Council bought for him – to New County Hall, having previously prevented him being moved to a site in her division (Threemilestone, Chacewater and Langarth).

She was later censured for breaking the council’s code of conduct for a “breach of confidentiality in relation to a vulnerable service user”. Cllr Tudor, who didn’t apologise to the council for her previous comments, has spoken out again about the even bigger site Mr Wainwright has been allowed to create.

“How can the leadership think this is a justifiable solution for a person who refuses to be housed in council accommodation?” she said. “I think most sensible people would be shocked to see what’s hidden away around the back of the building.

“I feel huge relief that I thwarted the council’s plans to move Mr Wainright and his bus to my division. It was worth breaking the council’s code of conduct to prevent the residents of my patch from suffering.”

She added: “How long is the bus going to be here, I wonder? Forever? And how many more ‘vulnerable travellers with complex needs’ are going to join Mr Wainwright at this growing encampment? Someone in authority needs to get a grip.”

Asked how long Mr Wainwright and his camp will be allowed to stay in the car park, a council spokesperson said: “We are unable to discuss individual circumstances. Our priority is to provide a place of safety for the people we have a duty of care for, balancing their needs and that of the local community.

“In situations such as these, our teams will be in regular contact to closely monitor any possible risks and respond promptly to any concerns.”