Illegal traveller encampment cleared within a day
An illegal encampment of travellers who demanded two thousand pounds from the business owner whose ground they were on, has been cleared.
The group in six caravans and numerous vehicles, arrived at Hortonwood on Monday night (4 March) and it was reported to Telford & Wrekin Council by the business owner the following morning.
Officers from the Council’s enforcement team along with West Mercia Police visited the encampment and served the occupants with a ‘Notice to Quit’ document with a deadline of Wednesday morning.
The occupants were also offered the opportunity to move onto the Council’s Transit Site under the section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which allows them to stay, for a fee that includes a deposit and weekly rent, for up to three months.
The offer of the transit site was turned down and all the travellers left on Tuesday night.
Cllr Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement said: “Once again, our officers acted quickly when the encampment was reported to the Council.
“As part of our efforts to quickly resolve issues, we offer travellers temporary accommodation at our Transit site which gives them the opportunity to stay somewhere, albeit briefly. It also provides us with a practical solution.”
