Travellers ordered to quit Tooting Common - London

From wandsworth.gov.uk

A group of Travellers who have set up camp on Tooting Common have been told to leave within the next 24 hours or face prosecution and risk having their vehicles towed away.

The Travellers have been served with notices requiring them to vacate the common by 2.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday). Failure to meet this deadline could render them liable to court action.

Camping overnight on any part of Tooting Common, without prior authorisation from the council, is a criminal offence under parks and open spaces byelaws.

The council also has powers to physically remove any person, and their belongings, including vehicles, if they do not comply with the byelaws.

Environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: "Local people can rest assured that we have acted quickly to remove this group from the common.

"By acting so swiftly we have reduced the likelihood of this camp getting any bigger and also ensured that this group will depart before the common and its facilities suffer any lasting damage."

Residents who witness any incident involving Travellers on council-owned land are being urged to contact the town hall's emergency response team on (020) 8871 6900. This is a 24 hour service. Occupations of other land should be reported immediately to the police.

The council provides an approved Travellers site in Trewint Street, Earlsfield.