Multiple Travellers' Camps Set Up in Ealing

Two camps on Ealing Common and Brent Meadows have now been moved on

(Travellers Brent Meadows: photo Liz Jenner)

Encampments of travellers appeared on Ealing's open spaces once again this week on Brent Meadows (picture above) in Hanwell and on Ealing Common again (below).

Today both groups appear to have moved on as of Wednesday 26 July.

Ealing Council has previously dealt with groups situated at Ealing Common and more recently moved along caravans from Pitshanger Park and Gurnell Leisure centre. Legal notices were served on the group on Ealing Common and on Tuesday (25 July) police blocked the road to ensure no further cars or caravans could join the encampment.

It is not known if this is the same group who have previously been in the borough or new members of the travelling community. Another group took up residence is Springfield Park in Acton departing on Tuesday.

( Ealing Common travellers: Liz Jenner)

( Brent Meadows: Liz Jenner)

An Ealing council spokesperson said, ''Ealing Council officers work closely with Parkguard and the police to respond quickly to unauthorised encampments on council-owned land. There are procedures that we must follow and we begin them as soon as we become aware of an encampment, while closely monitoring the site to make sure it is kept tidy and doesn’t cause public health problems. Once these procedures are complete we can start the process to legally remove encampments.

“As is the case with many outer-London boroughs, we have found the number of encampments is increasing. This is a drain on scarce local resources and we find it as frustrating as local residents do, but we are obliged to consider each situation on its merits and we must operate within the law.

“We have responded to the increase by streamlining our processes and working closely with our colleagues in the Police and Parkguard to take back possession of the land as soon as is legally and practically possible. We have an official site in the borough specifically for travellers.”

26 July 2017  (updated)