Travellers Move on Again

Camp moved from Elthorne and back on Ealing Common again

( Elthorne Park travellers: all photos courtesy Liz Jenner)

The travellers are continuing their tour around Ealing's green spaces with the latest group stopping at Elthorne Park then swiftly being moved on again.

According to eye-witnesses around 20 or more caravans and vans accessed the open land from an alley way next to Elthorne school and sports centre.

Police were quickly at the scene and parked up close to the encampment.

Yesterday evening ( 8/08) the group were moved on and in convoy made their way from Elthorne Park along Boston Road.

They travelled past The Viaduct and have now returned to Ealing Common.

On twitter Ealing Police said: The travellers on #EalingCommon have been served with a #CodeOfConduct letter & if necessary we will work with @EalingCouncil to remove them

Over the last few weeks various groups have been spotted on Ealing Common, Cleveland Park, Gurnell Leisure Centre, Norwood Green as well as others in Acton.

It is not known at this stage whether this is one group or different ones moving around the borough.

The police and council have worked alongside contractors Parkguard and the various convoys have generally moved on after a few days.

The council say that there is a process that must be followed before legal notices can be issued and possession of the site can be obtained so it is not practical to evict groups immediately.

Travellers have consistently appeared on Ealing Common over the last few years. A group encamped on Ealing Common this May and the previous year there was a lengthy legal battle to remove a group which resulted in them merely moving to the other side of the common. Persistent use of the common in this way has led to calls for measures to be taken to restrict access to the land for vehicles.

A council spokesperson has previously said:

“The council works with the police to take strong and immediate action against illegal encampments in the borough. We visited this site and carried out the checks and assessments the council is legally obliged to before serving the encampment with a direction to leave, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. Any failure to comply with this would have seen the council seek a removal order from magistrates court.

“There has been an increase in the number of unauthorised encampments nationally and the council is working hard to ensure the duration of such camps appearing in the borough is minimised."

The council claim that the increasing number of encampments is a drain on local resources which they find frustrating. However they are obliged to consider each encampment on its merits and operate within the law.

They have responded to the increase by streamlining their processes to take back possession of land as soon as is legally and practically possible and add that they have an official site in the borough specifically for travellers.

A council spokesperson said (09/08): “The police are using their powers to move this illegal encampment from Ealing Common as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we are closely monitoring the site.”

August 9th 2017