Travellers take over Javelin Park site near M5 junction 12 - Gloucestershire

From the Gloucester Citizen

TRAVELLERS have taken over the Javelin Park site near junction 12 of the M5.

The site is near the gateway to Gloucester and adjacent to the location for the planned incinerator which would deal with the county’s waste.

The Travellers moved several caravans onto the site earlier this week but there have so far been no reported incidents that have involved police activity.

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police said: “Police are aware of the Travellers on the site and have visited the area but we cannot do anything until contact has been made with the landowners who we are still trying to locate.”

The Travellers have been visited by a Gloucestershire County Council representative.

Paul Kenyon, principal Traveller services officer at the county council, said: “We manage four sites through Traveller services officers and liaise when necessary for day-to-day running.

“Despite the fact that in this case the land isn’t owned by us, we’ve visited this location at Javelin Park and will be speaking with the landowner to help achieve a successful outcome.”

Javelin Park spans across 15 acres and has planning permission for some 272,700 sq ft of unit space for distribution facilities.

The sale of units on the land off Stonehouse Road is managed by London-based firm Grafton Gate, who did not respond to requests for a comment.

The firm market the site on a website, which says: “Javelin Park is unique. It is adjacent to the motorway and is on the edge of both the city and the countryside. An extensive range of warehousing planning permissions are in place and buildings can be delivered within six months.”

The neighbouring site has been earmarked for the proposed development of an energy-from-waste facility, which would be built and run by Urbaser Balfour Beatty as part of a contract with Gloucestershire County Council. The plans were refused and a planning appeal into the decision has now concluded.