Travellers will need to quit common - London

From Wandsworth.gov.uk

A group of Travellers who set up camp on Tooting Common last night (Wednesday) are set to be served with formal legal notices later today giving them 24 hours to move on.

The Travellers will be told they must vacate the common or face prosecution and risk having their vehicles towed away.

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 will be arranging for this group's removal from the common as quickly as possible.

"This swift response should ensure this camp doesn't get any bigger and also minimise the risk of the common suffering any long 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.

Before the group can be served with the notice to quit the common, the council is duty-bound by law to carry out welfare checks.