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We’re so sick of travellers in caravans ruining our seaside town we’ve ‘TRAPPED’ them & won’t let them out without a fee
Fuming traveller Pippa Amos, 24, argued the group were not given enough notice
OUTRAGED residents have taken matters into their own hands after a group of travellers set up camp and 'ruined' their seaside town.
A fuming resident in Bembride Point, Isle of Wight, reached his limit and ";trapped" the group in a car park with 3ft high concrete bollards.
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Owner Malcolm Thorpe told the travellers he would remove the blockade if they paid him a fee.
He claimed the sum was a form of repayment for their "mistreatment" of the area.
Or, if they refuse to cough up the cash, he will take away the bollards on August 19 at no cost - but they must leave straight away.
However the traveller community insisted they've treated the area with nothing but respect.
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They were first asked to limit their caravans to just one side of the car park, so there were spaces for those using the village green.
The controversial bollards were erected to distinguish the separate spaces.
But Bembridge Harbour Authority claimed the dividers were "unlawfully" moved by the travellers, so they could continue leaving their vans where they wished.
Yet traveller Pippa Amos, 24, alleged the group only moved back to their original spaces when members of the public started to as well.
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Last month a notice was issued which explained the entire car park would be blocked off.
Any caravans that remained would have to pay a "removal fee", and the bollards went up two days later.
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Outraged Pipa blasted the move and claimed there wasn't enough notice, arguing they should have been warned a week in advance.
She told : "You can't just entrap people. We can walk out but these vans are our homes, our lives.
"I wish I didn't have to leave. If I didn't have that opportunity [on the mainland], I would stay.
"At the end of the day, it is their choice."
Meanwhile, Mr Thorpe said: "Some of the occupiers continued their previous habits to totally mistreat the parish council's toilets and the adjoining private land, as well as continued to leave their refuse and waste in public places."
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the issue is a civil matter.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said: "The council provides advice and assistance to anyone who finds themselves homeless, or who are threatened with homelessness within 56 days."
Travellers in car parks
Encampments in car parks are 'unauthorised', and the legal process for eviction is entirely separate from the normal enforcement of car parking terms and conditions.
Enforcement of car parking terms and conditions is difficult to apply in the case of travellers. In such circumstances, chasing an unenforceable fine adds unnecessary costs. The most effective remedy is to seek possession through the courts.
Also, issuing and enforcing car parking charges could deem the encampment to be authorised. This could be counter productive to the process of managing and seeking a court order to evict an unauthorised encampment.
How quickly can the council remove an unauthorised encampment?
The law requires a council to:
- show that the unauthorised encampment is on the land without consent
- ensure that human rights, equalities and other related legislation has been complied with
- make enquiries about the general health and welfare of the group and the children’s education
- follow a set procedure in terms of proving ownership of land and details of the unauthorised encampment
- gather sufficient evidence to demonstrate to a court of law that the unauthorised encampment is causing detriment or denial of open space usage to the local community
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