From the Warrington Guardian
TRAVELLERS that settled on Silver Lane in Risley have now moved.
Warrington Borough Council applied for a court order to evict the Travellers.
Police say they moved before the order was served.
A group of caravans and trailers had moved onto the road last week.
It is the third time the council has had to take action to move Travellers from the location.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Travellers set up camp at North Warwickshire recreation area
From the Tamworth Herald
TRAVELLERS have returned to North Warwickshire setting up camp in a recreation area.
Yesterday evening around eight caravans towed by vehicles entered Piccadilly Park near Kingsbury and many were still present this morning (Wednesday).
Damage has been inflicted to fencing at the entrance of the park, which was constructed along with a gate to help prevent Traveller access to the site.
Visible tyre marks in the grass track the course of the Travellers beyond the damaged fencing area.
“It’s not acceptable,” said Councillor Mick Stanley, leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council. “It’s the cost of it all, getting them moved on, the clear up, any damage caused, the policing.
“This isn’t some farmer’s field in the middle of nowhere, this is a recreation area where people play football.”
Back in March the Herald reported how 20 caravans were evicted from Baddesley Recreation Ground little over two hours after illegally entering the site.
And in June last year, Travellers gained access to a council-owned recreation ground in Dordon forcing another eviction.
Piccadilly Recreation Park has its own history of Travellers, back in September 2011, a group was moved on from the site.
Councillor Hayden Phillips, whose ward covers Piccadilly, said: “It’s a shame the fence has been broken down, it was okay yesterday morning when I went by their yesterday.
“It causes disruptions for everybody, and it’s intimidating for the people who live nearby in tight-knit communities.
“It is expensive if we have to get an injunction to get them removed, the officer time, the court time.”
TRAVELLERS have returned to North Warwickshire setting up camp in a recreation area.
Yesterday evening around eight caravans towed by vehicles entered Piccadilly Park near Kingsbury and many were still present this morning (Wednesday).
Damage has been inflicted to fencing at the entrance of the park, which was constructed along with a gate to help prevent Traveller access to the site.
Visible tyre marks in the grass track the course of the Travellers beyond the damaged fencing area.
“It’s not acceptable,” said Councillor Mick Stanley, leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council. “It’s the cost of it all, getting them moved on, the clear up, any damage caused, the policing.
“This isn’t some farmer’s field in the middle of nowhere, this is a recreation area where people play football.”
Back in March the Herald reported how 20 caravans were evicted from Baddesley Recreation Ground little over two hours after illegally entering the site.
And in June last year, Travellers gained access to a council-owned recreation ground in Dordon forcing another eviction.
Piccadilly Recreation Park has its own history of Travellers, back in September 2011, a group was moved on from the site.
Councillor Hayden Phillips, whose ward covers Piccadilly, said: “It’s a shame the fence has been broken down, it was okay yesterday morning when I went by their yesterday.
“It causes disruptions for everybody, and it’s intimidating for the people who live nearby in tight-knit communities.
“It is expensive if we have to get an injunction to get them removed, the officer time, the court time.”
Here’s one I designed earlier says town planner as he bids for new Travellers’ site in the Fens - Cambridgeshire
From the Ely Standard
A town planner who specialises in applications for Travellers’ sites says his bid to secure eight caravans on a site near March still leaves the district under provided.
Philip Brown of Rugby has submitted outline plans – including this sketch of the proposed elevations- to Fenland District Council.
Mr Brown says permission exists already for a mobile home and tourer on the site at Cedar Cottage, Hook Road, Wimblington. He wants this to be extended to allow four pitches for gypsy families, each with a mobile home and a single caravan.
He claims Fenland Council’s latest assessments from 2011 “suffer the obvious flaw of applying an annual turnover rate to produce a supply of pitches, which coincidentally, matches the assessed need.
“This calculation is dependent on a number of assumptions.”
Mr Browns says the first is that site owners will allow anyone to have a pitch whereas “they are most discerning and only allow Travellers on to their sites if they are from families related to, or friendly with, the owner.
He said it was also wrong to assume that people moved simply within Fenland, making no allowances for people moving away or dying.
“The study in 2011 made no allowance for in migration and no allowance has been made for Travellers moving out of houses onto sites,” he said.
Mr Brown said in South Cambridgeshire a number of appeals had challenged existing provision for not providing “a robust assessment of need.” In Fenland he believes an extra 39 pitches are needed in Fenland and his application would “contribute to meeting that need.”
The proposed site is a mile from the village, is easily accessible to services, and the site would be screened by hedgerows and buildings from Hook Road.
Mr Brown reveals in his application that he is acting for a gypsy family from Brackley, Berks, who own the land.
A town planner who specialises in applications for Travellers’ sites says his bid to secure eight caravans on a site near March still leaves the district under provided.
Philip Brown of Rugby has submitted outline plans – including this sketch of the proposed elevations- to Fenland District Council.
Mr Brown says permission exists already for a mobile home and tourer on the site at Cedar Cottage, Hook Road, Wimblington. He wants this to be extended to allow four pitches for gypsy families, each with a mobile home and a single caravan.
He claims Fenland Council’s latest assessments from 2011 “suffer the obvious flaw of applying an annual turnover rate to produce a supply of pitches, which coincidentally, matches the assessed need.
“This calculation is dependent on a number of assumptions.”
Mr Browns says the first is that site owners will allow anyone to have a pitch whereas “they are most discerning and only allow Travellers on to their sites if they are from families related to, or friendly with, the owner.
He said it was also wrong to assume that people moved simply within Fenland, making no allowances for people moving away or dying.
“The study in 2011 made no allowance for in migration and no allowance has been made for Travellers moving out of houses onto sites,” he said.
Mr Brown said in South Cambridgeshire a number of appeals had challenged existing provision for not providing “a robust assessment of need.” In Fenland he believes an extra 39 pitches are needed in Fenland and his application would “contribute to meeting that need.”
The proposed site is a mile from the village, is easily accessible to services, and the site would be screened by hedgerows and buildings from Hook Road.
Mr Brown reveals in his application that he is acting for a gypsy family from Brackley, Berks, who own the land.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Blueprint to tackle illegal Traveller camps approved - Yorkshire
From the Northern Echo
TRAVELLERS on illegal camps will have to abide by a code of conduct and will be given two weeks to leave before facing legal action, leading councillors have agreed.
A meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive heard the move would be part of a concerted drive to tackle concerns unauthorised camps generate in nearby settled communities and improve the health and wellbeing of Travellers.
Latest figures show the council’s Customer Service Centre received 48 reports of illegal camps between October 2011 and September 2012, while other reports may have been made to its highways department.
The meeting heard historically the authority’s responses to unauthorised camps had been inconsistent and there was a need to balance the needs and legal rights of all communities in the county.
One of the reasons the issue particularly affects the county is due to the A1 and A19 being key routes for Travellers heading to fairs and other events.
Richard Flinton, the authority’s chief executive, said Travellers attending the North Yorkshire and York Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showmen Wider Forum earlier this year cited the absence of transit or short-stay sites in the county as the principle cause of illegal camps.
Councillors were told of other agreed principles, such as removing illegal camps in locations which have been identified as unacceptable, particularly where environmental damage could occur such as village greens, as quickly as the law allowed and without legal action.
Mr Flinton said rapid action would save on legal and possible clear-up costs as well as officers’ time.
The executive also agreed to strive to reduce friction between people on illegal camps and local communities and meet the welfare needs of Travellers more cost effectively, to reduce the need for more costly and less effective interventions later.
Councillor Carl Les, the authority’s deputy leader, said the changes represented a more joined-up response to dealing with illegal camps and called for the system to be reviewed next year.
Councillor Chris Metcalfe said: “Illegal campsites are sometimes a minefield to deal and by identifying sites that are totally unacceptable we are bringing some clarity to the issue.”
TRAVELLERS on illegal camps will have to abide by a code of conduct and will be given two weeks to leave before facing legal action, leading councillors have agreed.
A meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive heard the move would be part of a concerted drive to tackle concerns unauthorised camps generate in nearby settled communities and improve the health and wellbeing of Travellers.
Latest figures show the council’s Customer Service Centre received 48 reports of illegal camps between October 2011 and September 2012, while other reports may have been made to its highways department.
The meeting heard historically the authority’s responses to unauthorised camps had been inconsistent and there was a need to balance the needs and legal rights of all communities in the county.
One of the reasons the issue particularly affects the county is due to the A1 and A19 being key routes for Travellers heading to fairs and other events.
Richard Flinton, the authority’s chief executive, said Travellers attending the North Yorkshire and York Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showmen Wider Forum earlier this year cited the absence of transit or short-stay sites in the county as the principle cause of illegal camps.
Councillors were told of other agreed principles, such as removing illegal camps in locations which have been identified as unacceptable, particularly where environmental damage could occur such as village greens, as quickly as the law allowed and without legal action.
Mr Flinton said rapid action would save on legal and possible clear-up costs as well as officers’ time.
The executive also agreed to strive to reduce friction between people on illegal camps and local communities and meet the welfare needs of Travellers more cost effectively, to reduce the need for more costly and less effective interventions later.
Councillor Carl Les, the authority’s deputy leader, said the changes represented a more joined-up response to dealing with illegal camps and called for the system to be reviewed next year.
Councillor Chris Metcalfe said: “Illegal campsites are sometimes a minefield to deal and by identifying sites that are totally unacceptable we are bringing some clarity to the issue.”
Opposition mounts to fresh plan for Denmead Travellers’ site - Hampshire
From the News
FRESH plans for a Travellers’ site on the outskirts of Denmead have been met with huge opposition.
Dozens of letters have been sent by residents to Winchester City Council in a bid to stop the plan for land behind the Chairmakers pub, off Forest Road, Worlds End.
It would mean turning a pony paddock into eight Traveller pitches, including enough room for a mobile home, a touring caravan and a day room on each pitch.
The initial plan, submitted in May, was withdrawn, but an almost identical proposal has now been submitted.
In his submission to the council, Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery said: ‘This site stands apart from the village of Denmead itself and is of sufficient scale to have an impact on the surrounding settlement.’
He said the application ‘demonstrably fails’ to ‘respect the interests of the settled community’.
One resident wrote: ‘If the site is fully occupied then we estimate that it could contain 50 gypsy/Travellers and that would cause major upset to the living conditions of the neighbouring population.
‘It is not just the extra people but the hardware, animals and pollution that they bring with them that cause upset to the natural environment and neighbouring properties.’
Another resident said: ‘The road is too busy for more traffic on and off the site.
‘I also do not see how, from the plans provided that there is room for eight mobile homes and eight touring vans as well as cesspits, cars, lorries, vans and kids.’
Denmead Parish Council has submitted a strong objection to the plans, which the city council is due to make a decision on by October 18.
A staff member at The Chairmakers told The News there were fears it could ruin their business because people might be put off coming to the pub.
A report by WS Planning and Architecture, representing eight Traveller families, said: ‘The families will be homeless with nowhere to live if this permission is not granted. The families need to be settled so they can access health and education services, bearing in mind that many have young children.’
Their report said there was ‘an urgent need’ for Traveller sites.
FRESH plans for a Travellers’ site on the outskirts of Denmead have been met with huge opposition.
Dozens of letters have been sent by residents to Winchester City Council in a bid to stop the plan for land behind the Chairmakers pub, off Forest Road, Worlds End.
It would mean turning a pony paddock into eight Traveller pitches, including enough room for a mobile home, a touring caravan and a day room on each pitch.
The initial plan, submitted in May, was withdrawn, but an almost identical proposal has now been submitted.
In his submission to the council, Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery said: ‘This site stands apart from the village of Denmead itself and is of sufficient scale to have an impact on the surrounding settlement.’
He said the application ‘demonstrably fails’ to ‘respect the interests of the settled community’.
One resident wrote: ‘If the site is fully occupied then we estimate that it could contain 50 gypsy/Travellers and that would cause major upset to the living conditions of the neighbouring population.
‘It is not just the extra people but the hardware, animals and pollution that they bring with them that cause upset to the natural environment and neighbouring properties.’
Another resident said: ‘The road is too busy for more traffic on and off the site.
‘I also do not see how, from the plans provided that there is room for eight mobile homes and eight touring vans as well as cesspits, cars, lorries, vans and kids.’
Denmead Parish Council has submitted a strong objection to the plans, which the city council is due to make a decision on by October 18.
A staff member at The Chairmakers told The News there were fears it could ruin their business because people might be put off coming to the pub.
A report by WS Planning and Architecture, representing eight Traveller families, said: ‘The families will be homeless with nowhere to live if this permission is not granted. The families need to be settled so they can access health and education services, bearing in mind that many have young children.’
Their report said there was ‘an urgent need’ for Traveller sites.
Site in Weymouth put forward as potential Traveller camp for Dorset - Dorset
From the Daily Echo
A SITE at the entrance to Weymouth has been put forward as one of two possible locations for a temporary transit facility for Travellers.
A committee of councillors has supported a recommendation to look at bringing forward a temporary transit site at either the Weymouth park and ride facility at Mount Pleasant or a site used during the Olympics last summer in Piddlehinton.
Dorset County Council’s environment overview committee was warned by local members that any proposals concerning the Weymouth site could spark widespread opposition from residents.
The committee also agreed to recommend to cabinet that a planning application is prepared to secure a transit site at the Great Dorset Steam Fair for another five years and to work with Dorset Police and the unitary authorities in Bournemouth and Poole to explore another temporary transit site on the east side of the county.
see also: ITV - Temporary Travellers site could be created next to Weymouth park and ride
A SITE at the entrance to Weymouth has been put forward as one of two possible locations for a temporary transit facility for Travellers.
A committee of councillors has supported a recommendation to look at bringing forward a temporary transit site at either the Weymouth park and ride facility at Mount Pleasant or a site used during the Olympics last summer in Piddlehinton.
Dorset County Council’s environment overview committee was warned by local members that any proposals concerning the Weymouth site could spark widespread opposition from residents.
The committee also agreed to recommend to cabinet that a planning application is prepared to secure a transit site at the Great Dorset Steam Fair for another five years and to work with Dorset Police and the unitary authorities in Bournemouth and Poole to explore another temporary transit site on the east side of the county.
see also: ITV - Temporary Travellers site could be created next to Weymouth park and ride
Travellers set up camp at former tourist attraction - Aberdeenshire
From the Evening Express
A COMMUNITY has hit out after Travellers pitched up on the site of a former tourist attraction.
Between 50 and 60 people, with caravans, cars and plant machinery, set up camp at the now-closed Archaeolink Prehistory Park in Oyne.
Oyne Community Association previously revealed plans to pursue community ownership of the site – which closed in 2011 – and hoped to turn it into an activity centre with help from Kool Kidz Play Centre in Insch.
Neil Lightowler, chairman of Oyne Community Association, said: “This latest turn of events in the Archaeolink saga causes concern for the whole of our community.”
A COMMUNITY has hit out after Travellers pitched up on the site of a former tourist attraction.
Between 50 and 60 people, with caravans, cars and plant machinery, set up camp at the now-closed Archaeolink Prehistory Park in Oyne.
Oyne Community Association previously revealed plans to pursue community ownership of the site – which closed in 2011 – and hoped to turn it into an activity centre with help from Kool Kidz Play Centre in Insch.
Neil Lightowler, chairman of Oyne Community Association, said: “This latest turn of events in the Archaeolink saga causes concern for the whole of our community.”
Hearsall Common Travellers stay put as Coventry council head to the courts - Warwickshire
From the Coventry Telegraph
Council chiefs are taking their fight to move an illegal Travellers camp off Hearsall Common in Coventry to the courts.
The group of about ten caravans moved on to the site at the weekend and despite being given a deadline of 5pm on Monday to leave, they have not left.
Coventry City Council’s legal team, who have followed all of the procedures needed to deal with Travellers sites, are now taking further action and are seeking an eviction through the county court.
Council chiefs are taking their fight to move an illegal Travellers camp off Hearsall Common in Coventry to the courts.
The group of about ten caravans moved on to the site at the weekend and despite being given a deadline of 5pm on Monday to leave, they have not left.
Coventry City Council’s legal team, who have followed all of the procedures needed to deal with Travellers sites, are now taking further action and are seeking an eviction through the county court.
Travellers could remain on Brighton park for days - Sussex
From the Argus
Travellers who broke onto a popular park will remain on site for days, if not weeks.
A group of about 20 vehicles moved onto Hollingbury Park, off Ditchling Road, Brighton on Saturday.
This was after they were evicted from Carden Park - about a mile away.
After Sussex Police said the unauthorised encampment did not meet the requirements for an immediate eviction, Brighton and Hove City Council will now have to go through the courts to secure an eviction.
An email sent to councillors yesterday said the group gained entry to the park after breaking a lock on a gate near Hollingbury Golf Course.
A council spokesman said: “Officers have visited the site with police.
“Council policy is to close such unauthorised encampments on parks as soon as possible. But this requires a court order.
“To get this, the law requires us first to make welfare checks and it then takes a while for the court to issue the order.
“We operate as quickly as national law permits and this policy has not changed for years. We're preparing legal paperwork now.”
Travellers who broke onto a popular park will remain on site for days, if not weeks.
A group of about 20 vehicles moved onto Hollingbury Park, off Ditchling Road, Brighton on Saturday.
This was after they were evicted from Carden Park - about a mile away.
After Sussex Police said the unauthorised encampment did not meet the requirements for an immediate eviction, Brighton and Hove City Council will now have to go through the courts to secure an eviction.
An email sent to councillors yesterday said the group gained entry to the park after breaking a lock on a gate near Hollingbury Golf Course.
A council spokesman said: “Officers have visited the site with police.
“Council policy is to close such unauthorised encampments on parks as soon as possible. But this requires a court order.
“To get this, the law requires us first to make welfare checks and it then takes a while for the court to issue the order.
“We operate as quickly as national law permits and this policy has not changed for years. We're preparing legal paperwork now.”
Tory councillors oppose Brighton Traveller site extension - Sussex
From the Argus
Plans for a new £1.7 million Travellers site in the South Downs National Park have been opposed by Conservative councillors.
Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted a proposal to build pitches for permanent settlement next to its transit site in Braypool Lane, Brighton.
The local authority said the site, north of the A27 at Patcham was chosen after a survey of 50 sites across the city.
But Conservative councillors have concerns that about the infrastructure cost, potential water pollution and access issues.
This was despite the party backing the creation of a permanent site when they were in power between 2007 and 2011.
Group leader Geoffrey Theobald said: “Residents campaigned long and hard for the National Park and I don't think they will be too happy if one of its first big decisions is to give the green light for a large and unsightly caravan park.
“We still have serious concerns about the potential for contamination of the water aquifer that supplies much of Brighton and Hove and the proposed solution of building a pipe under the A27 will be extremely expensive.”
The planning application was submitted last Monday and will be determined by the National Park Authority's planning committee.
The public consultation period is expected to open this month.
Plans for a new £1.7 million Travellers site in the South Downs National Park have been opposed by Conservative councillors.
Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted a proposal to build pitches for permanent settlement next to its transit site in Braypool Lane, Brighton.
The local authority said the site, north of the A27 at Patcham was chosen after a survey of 50 sites across the city.
But Conservative councillors have concerns that about the infrastructure cost, potential water pollution and access issues.
This was despite the party backing the creation of a permanent site when they were in power between 2007 and 2011.
Group leader Geoffrey Theobald said: “Residents campaigned long and hard for the National Park and I don't think they will be too happy if one of its first big decisions is to give the green light for a large and unsightly caravan park.
“We still have serious concerns about the potential for contamination of the water aquifer that supplies much of Brighton and Hove and the proposed solution of building a pipe under the A27 will be extremely expensive.”
The planning application was submitted last Monday and will be determined by the National Park Authority's planning committee.
The public consultation period is expected to open this month.
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