Councillor to face challenge over Gypsy and Traveller sites - Devon

From the Plymouth Herald

CITY Cabinet member Brian Vincent is expected to face a strong challenge over Gypsies and Travellers at today's full council meeting.

Plymouth Conservatives say they will put Cllr Vincent on the spot after it took two weeks to move a large group of Travellers from Horsham Fields in Plymstock.

Plymouth City Council has defended the process.

But Cllr Patrick Nicholson, deputy leader of the Conservative group on the council, said they would be accusing Cllr Vincent of allowing the evictions to drag on.

The Travellers, with about 30 caravans, caused difficulties for local people. Plymstock Albion Oaks rugby club was forced to rearrange a charity match in aid of a paralysed former player after Travellers set up camp on their pitch on Sunday, May 19.

"We are concerned that there seems to be a period of time when the council tries to use containment rather then enforcement," Cllr Nicholson said.

"It was getting on for a week for the council to apply to the courts for possession. We don't feel at the moment that they are moving fast enough to seek possession through the courts."

He said there was a similar delay when Travellers moved on to Central Park last autumn.

Cllr Nicholson said that Plymouth could become a target for Travellers if it took longer to move illegal encampments than in neighbouring authorities.

"If we had a stricter regime of immediate applications to the courts it would send out a strong message."

He said it appeared that the council was hoping the Travellers would move on voluntarily.

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson told The Herald that using the common law of trespass to remove unauthorised encampments typically took three to four weeks.

In the Horsham Fields incident the group arrived on May 19 and notice to quit was served on May 21, giving them until May 24. Court papers were served on May 28 and the Travellers moved on before the case could come to court.