Park Travellers get eviction notice - Derbyshire

From the Derbyshire Telegraph

COURT proceedings have been issued against a convoy of Travellers who have camped in a Derby park,

The group has been summoned to appear in court unless they leave Osmaston Park by next Wednesday.

An eviction notice has already been served on the Travellers, who have been accused of cutting a padlock to enter the park on Sunday evening.

One local resident also alleges youths from the group have been riding quad bikes on the park and threatening local children.

But police and the council are confident they will have moved on "in the next couple of days."

Paul Dickenson formed Osmaston Park Regeneration Association, which campaigned to get £600,000 for the park's overhaul in 2009.

The 53-year-old, of Osmaston Park Road, was named a Derby Telegraph Community Champion for his work.

He said: "I believe they cut the locks to get on to the park on Sunday night and that they are the same Travellers who were camped on the Racecourse in Chaddesden.

"Since they have been here youths have been riding quad bikes across the park close to where people are walking their dogs and I have been told they have tried to threaten children by telling them they need to pay them money to be able to play on the park.

"I have reported them to the police and we just want them to move on.

"There is an official Travellers' site down the road in Cotton Lane. Why can't they use that?

"I also don't see why the police cannot have just followed them when they left the Racecourse and made sure they didn't camp anywhere else in the city."

Councillor Baggy Shanker is the cabinet member for housing and advice at Derby City Council.

He said he and council officers were made aware of the Travellers' camp on Monday morning.

Mr Shanker said: "We have issued possession proceedings with the court and the hearing is at noon on July 16.

"They were previously served with a notice to leave the land but they disregarded this, hence the application to court.

"We are acting as quickly as possible.

"We are determined to move these individuals on as soon as is legally possible," he added.

Inspector Kamaljit Singh Bria is in charge of policing in Derby East which covers Osmaston Park.

He said: "Local officers have been made aware that the Travellers have arrived on the site and we are being led by the council on the issue.

"We have also been made aware of complaints about their conduct and have been to speak to them but we have not witnessed any offences taking place."