UPDATED: POLICE have confirmed they will use special powers to evict travellers who have set up camp at Risley after being moved on from Woolston Community Hub in Warrington.
The encampment which was successfully evicted from the car park at Woolston Community Hub yesterday has now arrived at Silver Lane Risley.
Police moved in to serve a section 61 order on the illegal encampment on the car park at Woolston yesterday (Wednesday) and have now confirmed they will use the same powers to evict them from Silver Lane.
A total of 14 caravans and associated vehicles has arrived at Silver Lane, Risley – a site which has been frequented by travellers on numerous occasions over the years, despite a locked barrier being placed across the road.
Warrington council’s gypsy and traveller support officers visited the site earlier today to carry out welfare checks and has now confirmed police will use their special powers to move them on again
9 Comments
And Silver lane was suppose to be locked!!
Surely the Police could have followed them out of town? It can’t be too difficult to coordinate can it?
They did do that successfully onto the M6 when travellers attempted to set up on the Blackbrook Estate and faced the anger of local residents a few years ago. So who knows. But until a permanent site is created by WBC not a lot can be done and the ping pong we see will go on. Anyway the search for the site has only been going on for about 4 to 6 years.
Geoff, a permanent site here will make little difference, if any, to the “pitch where I like” behaviour of many in the travelling community. Have a look at the local media reports of several towns and counties around the country. It is a nationwide problem. The idea of being charged a daily/nightly fee and a deposit to use the specified site, will turn most off, especially so when they can park freely and move around the borough as they do now.
Don’t agree – it should speed up the eviction process for illegal encampments.
Home Office
Guide to effective use of enforcement powers
Part 1: Unauthorised encampments
Page 17.
Making authorised provision 72. Enforcement action will be quicker and more effective, and a wider range of powers can be used, where appropriate authorised provision is made for Gypsies and Travellers within the area. The Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to undertake accommodation needs assessment for Gypsies and Travellers who reside in or resort to their areas, and then to set out a strategy to meet those needs. Adequate provision will have wide benefits in the management of unauthorised camping as: • there will be less unauthorised camping in the first place; • the police will not be restricted in the use of ss. 62A-E CJPOA if suitable pitches are available; • legal challenges are less likely to occur or succeed; • the courts are more likely to grant possession orders to local authorities who show they are acting responsibly in carrying out their wider duties and who deal with each incident of unauthorised camping on its merits.
I’m sure the authorities in Cambridge (for example) know all about these Home Office regulations and optimistic expectations Geoff. They already have more than one designated site for the travelling community, but they still have annually to endure and deal with a steady stream of the “Park where I like” brigade.
Be quiet geoff you copy and paste hero! Just do what we do in ireland and deal with these sewer rats yourself as the police are pathetic!
How much did that gate cost? Was it £1000 or £10,000? Since it was installed the travellers have bolt croppered the lock quite a few times and parked up as they were yesterday.