Travellers return to Coulsdon car park - Croydon

From the Coulsdon and Purley Advertiser

TRAVELLERS say they moved into a Coulsdon town centre site for the third time in six months because the council always takes "at least a week" to move them on.

Eight caravans turned up at the council-run Lion Green Road car park last week, with the council blaming keyholders for failing to secure the site properly.

But the Travellers say they use the site because they are guaranteed at least seven days of untroubled residence.

The caravans turned up early last week and left on Sunday, under orders from Croydon Council.

But before their departure, one of the Travellers – who declined to give her name – said: "We come here because we know we get a week and we do not have to go through the hassle of having to move every day.

"The council also asked us whether we knew how to access doctors and schooling for our kids.

"It would be nice to get them into schools but it is hard when we are moving around."

Vicky Newham, who lives in Lion Green Road opposite the car park, said the noise from the site was "a real pain".

She said: "The noise is from their generators going all night. And their dogs roam around and bark 24/7.

"I've complained about them being there loads of times, to the council and police.

"It really bugs me that they are allowed to stay there for free when people have to pay to park their cars there, and are given penalty notices if they overstay.

"Why are the same rules not applied to them?"

At present, there is only one legalised Traveller site in Croydon – at Latham's Way in Broad Green – and none in the south of the borough.

But Charles King, chairman of the East Coulsdon Residents' Association, feels having one would not help the situation and instead urged the council to get tougher. He said: "Just over the boundary in Woodmansterne there is a private site and a council one. That should be enough."

The Lion Green Road car park is run by the council, but certain keyholders are able to remove the height-restriction barriers.

The council says these barriers had been taken out but not put back, which allowed caravans to access the site.

On the period of time it takes to remove the Travellers, the spokesman said the council acts on a "case by case basis" and that a week's notice is not standard.

He added: "All factors are taken into consideration and appropriate notice agreed and given.

"If it seems a little more grace needs to be given we do that – we try to be firm but fair."