Landowner vows to not let Travellers hit trade - Lincolnshire

From the Grimsby Telegraph

A CLEETHORPES farmer has vowed to welcome customers as usual – despite Travellers setting up camp on his land.

Boo Parkes hopes the four caravans, which have pulled up next to Pennells Garden Centre, will not deter customers from visiting his weekly car boots sales and pick-your-own strawberry site.

The Wednesday morning car boot sale was set to take place as normal this morning, despite the caravans.

Mr Parkes, the owner of Weelsby Estates Ltd, said: "We were open on Monday evening and the Travellers drove up and started picking the strawberries with about seven or eight children.

"They didn't pay and told me they were camping here for the night. When I told them they couldn't, they didn't pay any attention and parked in the field anyway.

"The men all left shortly afterwards so we dragged farm machinery down to block the entrance but they somehow moved it all and ditched it in the dyke."

They are the third set of Travellers making the area their home – with one group at Grimsby's Gilbey Road and another off Hewitts Avenue, in Cleethorpes.

Travellers first arrived on land off Taylors Avenue, in Cleethorpes, at the beginning of June.

North East Lincolnshire Council quickly moved to evict them, which has led to a number of court orders being served.

They later moved to Peaks Top Farm, in New Waltham, before arriving at Cleethorpes Country Park, Wilton Road Industrial Estate and then land off Weelsby Avenue.

They have been issued with a direction to leave notice to leave Gilbey Road by the council, which will be followed by a summons to attend court on Friday.

The family of 17 currently off Hewitts Avenue, stayed in the same locations as the first group, but were forced to separate because there was not enough room for them on Gilbey Road. The council cannot help to move Travellers from either the Hewitts Avenue of Pennells sites because the land is publicly owned.

Mr Parkes added: "It's very intimating having them here. They have been aggressive to my son and a group of them followed me in their cars.

"My fear is that more will turn up, although they have assured me that won't happen.

"I just want them off my land and they've promised to go by Friday but I have already got a solicitor involved if they don't."