Short-lived elation as Traveller finds new site - Cornwall

From the West Briton

A TRAVELLER who illegally camped next to a business park in St Agnes has moved to a new site nearby.

Cornwall Council's enforcement team stepped in following a stream of complaints from disgruntled Wheal Kitty business people about alleged disturbance from Neil Wainwright.

The council contacted the owners of the land who sought an eviction order and threatened to bring in bailiffs if Mr Wainright failed to move his dilapidated bus from the site.

St Agnes parish councillor Dawn Brown said she was pleased he had moved off, although he was now on Cornwall Council land next to a road and bridleway regularly used by walkers.

She said: "The police were driving by regularly and business owners were given incident logs by the council's antisocial behaviour team, so overall that has been handled well. On Friday evening Neil's van was towed away to the delight of business owners, however, they were not quite so pleased when they found out where it was going."

His bus was found parked on land at the Blue Hill's car park on September 29.

The council said this and other unauthorised encampments on its land would be discussed at the next unauthorised encampment group meeting later this month.

Mrs Brown has complained to Cornwall Council's chief executive claiming its Gypsy liaison officer, Phil Eaton, encouraged the Traveller onto Wheal Kitty.

She said the complaint was now being investigated by its housing team.

In a letter to the West Briton, Mr Wainwright claimed his property had been vandalised previously and he has done "nothing illegal".