Travellers foiled in Brighton seafront stand-off - Sussex

From the Argus

Travellers were foiled in an attempt to move on to a seafront site.

Teams from Sussex Police stopped a group of about 20 vehicles as they tried to move on to the car park at Black Rock in Madeira Drive, Brighton, yesterday morning.

A stand-off which lasted much of the day then followed as officers first issued the Travellers with an eviction notice and then warned they would carry out arrests for trespassing.

The group is understood to have moved on as The Argus was going to print.

Conservative councillor Mary Mears said: “I know with all the noise which normally accompanies unauthorised encampments residents will be pleased to see the council and police working together quickly on this.

“Usually the feedback is that the council says it is the police’s responsibility and vice versa.”

The group arrived in Madeira Drive yesterday morning ahead of Brighton and Hove City Council using a possession order for the BMX site in Sheepcote Valley awarded by the county court on Monday.

After officers resisted their attempts to move on to Black Rock, they remained in the coach bays and adjoining grass in Madeira Drive, near Brighton Marina.

Eviction notices were issued at 3pm and officers maintained their presence at the site while the local authority installed a concrete block in front of the car park.

Police then informed the group if they failed to move by 5pm, it would start arresting individuals for criminal offences.

There are no events planned in Madeira Drive this weekend but on October 5 the Brighton
Breeze annual VW rally is planned.

A day later, more than 2,000 LandRovers are expected to take part in a similar event.

With these events in mind, the council said it would continue to monitor the unauthorised encampment situation in the area.

In addition to the Black Rock site, unauthorised encampments remain on land adjacent to Chalk Hill car park in Stanmer Woods and on 39 Acres, off Ditchling Road, Brighton.

The council said it had visited both sites and was carrying out assessments to work out the most appropriate course of action.

A council spokesman said: “We respect the right of the travelling community to lead a nomadic way of life, but also have a duty and responsibility to local residents to ensure they are able to enjoy the city’s parks and open spaces.”