FILTON traders have demanded action from council officials after a group of Travellers parked their caravans in the town's main shoppers' car park.
One van and one caravan remained at the site in Gloucester Road North yesterday – despite South Gloucestershire Council issuing the Irish Travellers with a notice to move within 24 hours on Thursday.
One van and one caravan remained at the site in Gloucester Road North yesterday – despite South Gloucestershire Council issuing the Irish Travellers with a notice to move within 24 hours on Thursday.
The two vehicles took up six of the bays at the long stay car park, which forbids trailers and parking for more than 12 hours at a time.
Traders say up to three caravans and associated vehicles were parked at the far end of the car park for a week-and-a-half, taking up 15 bays.
Aaron Naughton, chairman of Filton Chamber of Trade, told the Evening Post: "We don't think it's fair that if we, or any of our customers, parked in that car park for days at a time we'd probably get ticketed or clamped. But the Travellers have been there for more than a week and have been allowed to park there for as long as they want.
"The car park gets quite full and they are taking up quite a large part of it, stopping people from using it to shop in the town. This is the third or fourth time the Travellers have come back this year – sometimes they set up a table and chairs in the car park. Some customers do not feel comfortable leaving their vehicle unattended or going back to it in the dark when there are people hanging around there. The Travellers are breaking the law but it doesn't seem like anyone wants to do anything about it. It seems like it's one rule for them and one rule for us."
Another trader, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, told the Evening Post: "I usually park my car in the car park but I feel uncomfortable walking back to it at night when there are lots of people hanging around.
"Having Travellers, or anyone parked there permanently, does not encourage shoppers in Filton, which is what we need at the moment – the council should be supporting us. It's affecting trade and making people feel uncomfortable – we have contacted the council but it doesn't seem like much is happening."
Two occupants of the caravan parked in the car park yesterday told the Evening Post they would be leaving soon but did not want to comment further.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: "The council is aware of the situation and is working according to established procedures to negotiate the departure of the vehicles. We hope to have the site cleared in the very near future."
The council has a "policy on Traveller issues" published on its website.
It states: "The council will strive to balance the interests of local people and the travelling population in the management of unauthorised encampments.
"In recognition that there is no provision of emergency stopping places or transit accommodation and that eviction can result in other unauthorised encampments in less suitable locations, every unauthorised encampment will be considered in relation to its individual circumstances."
Traders say up to three caravans and associated vehicles were parked at the far end of the car park for a week-and-a-half, taking up 15 bays.
Aaron Naughton, chairman of Filton Chamber of Trade, told the Evening Post: "We don't think it's fair that if we, or any of our customers, parked in that car park for days at a time we'd probably get ticketed or clamped. But the Travellers have been there for more than a week and have been allowed to park there for as long as they want.
"The car park gets quite full and they are taking up quite a large part of it, stopping people from using it to shop in the town. This is the third or fourth time the Travellers have come back this year – sometimes they set up a table and chairs in the car park. Some customers do not feel comfortable leaving their vehicle unattended or going back to it in the dark when there are people hanging around there. The Travellers are breaking the law but it doesn't seem like anyone wants to do anything about it. It seems like it's one rule for them and one rule for us."
Another trader, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, told the Evening Post: "I usually park my car in the car park but I feel uncomfortable walking back to it at night when there are lots of people hanging around.
"Having Travellers, or anyone parked there permanently, does not encourage shoppers in Filton, which is what we need at the moment – the council should be supporting us. It's affecting trade and making people feel uncomfortable – we have contacted the council but it doesn't seem like much is happening."
Two occupants of the caravan parked in the car park yesterday told the Evening Post they would be leaving soon but did not want to comment further.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: "The council is aware of the situation and is working according to established procedures to negotiate the departure of the vehicles. We hope to have the site cleared in the very near future."
The council has a "policy on Traveller issues" published on its website.
It states: "The council will strive to balance the interests of local people and the travelling population in the management of unauthorised encampments.
"In recognition that there is no provision of emergency stopping places or transit accommodation and that eviction can result in other unauthorised encampments in less suitable locations, every unauthorised encampment will be considered in relation to its individual circumstances."
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