Travellers Break In To Orion Park Again

Police called after a number of caravans spotted on Wednesday night

(Photos courtesy Cllr David Millican)

Police were called last night to deal with the latest incursion of travellers who have managed to get into the Orion Park estate in Northfields.

It's been reported that they cut through gates and moved the concrete beams which the site owner had installed following last years events.

Earlier in the day caravans were reported in West Ealing at the back of the former BT Telephone Exchange site on Gordon road, but are believed to have moved on.

The latest occupation follows major problems last year when travellers moved in to the site opposite Northfields station for a week and left huge amounts of waste.

James Guest, Chair of Northfield Ward SNT Panel, has written to the Inspector in charge of neighbourhood policing outlining local concerns.

He says, ''The site is in the midst of a residential area and is bordered by homes all along its northern boundary.  Last summer’s incursion was immensely disturbing for the residents whose homes back onto the site. ''

( (Photos courtesy Cllr David Millican)

According to Cllr David Millican who has visited the site the police are in 'extensive dialogue' with several of the travellers who are made up of 16 adults and 20 children. It is alleged that the group have moved the barricades and broken the chain to gain access. The representatives of the firm providing security for the site are also at the location.

The site is now owned by Network Homes, the housing association who have bought the site for development. Cllr Millican says he has already contacted their director and will be liasing further with him and the Ealing Council Community Safety Manager.

( debris left last year)

James Guest makes a number of suggestions:

• Early Implementation of the 2015 powers to intercept and seize vehicles suspected of collecting, transfer and dumping of unlicensed waste.  These Government powers, which can be implemented without the need to refer to the courts, are set out at this link 
• Prevention of additional travellers joining those already on the Orion Park site – this happened last year.

• Proactive and sustained reassurance campaign for all neighbouring residents and businesses by the Northfield Ward SNT – e.g. SNT leaflet, with contact phone no’s and emails, to every address in Belsize Avenue, Mayo Court and Jefferson Close, plus the retailers.

• Support for retailers who might be subjected to repeated incidents of shoplifting below the £50 ‘no action’ threshold – they weren’t well supported last year.

• Police issuing of OWL message to Northfield and Walpole Wards (or wider waste collection footprint) advising residents of the occupation of the Orion Park site and its (possible) use for the dumping of unlicensed waste.  That the police would appreciate descriptions and photos of vehicles which might be being used for these collections – and how they should be forwarded to the police.  Once there’s an Owl message out there it can be relayed onto Facebook.

• Guidance for retailers, tube station and residents who have CCTV as to how they should share footage and photos with the police.

• Guidance as to how police on duty at/near the entrance should respond to enquiries from the public. 

18 July 2019