Travellers set up illegal camp in Central Park - Devon

From the Plymouth Herald

A GROUP of Travellers have pitched up illegally at Central Park.

Several caravans arrived at a prominent part of the city's 'green lung', just off Alma Road, early yesterday morning.

A 4x4 and around four caravans are among the vehicles to have set up camp among trees close to a popular skate park.

Dog walkers, visitors to the nearby Life Centre and others enjoying the sun-drenched park were eyeing the plot yesterday.

A Plymouth City Council spokeswoman said: "We have been made aware of the unauthorised encampment and have undertaken the required welfare checks.

"We are following our normal procedures for dealing with unauthorised encampments."

The council is forced to deal with around 25 illegal encampments every year, partly because there are no organised transit sites in Plymouth.

Strict legal guidelines mean each unauthorised encampment can take between ten days and four weeks to evict.

The only permanent Gypsy and Traveller camp in the city is at The Ride, next to Chelson Meadow.