Sedgemoor District Council has begun legal action to get a group of travellers moved from Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront car park.
Eight vehicles, including four large caravans, are pitched up in the Esplanade car park near to the B&M store, as pictured here.
Sedgemoor District Council, which owns the car park, has begun the legal process to get the group moved on.
Spokeswoman Claire Faun told Bunham-On-Sea.com: “The travellers were issued with a letter on Friday morning advising them that they are occupying council land without consent and they are required to vacate it within 24 hours.”
“If they do not vacate the car park, an application will be made to the County Court for a Possession Order on Monday and the notice of hearing will then be served on the travellers.”
Police were called to the southern side of the car park on Thursday evening when they arrived, when Police were seen visiting each caravan to check on the occupants’ plans to leave.
This week’s arrival comes after a series of visits by travellers to the car park over recent years.
. Council’s steps to get the travellers moved:
This is the process that the district council follows once there is an unauthorised incursion on to Sedgemoor District Council owned land:
The travellers are issued with a letter advising that they are occupying council land without consent and are usually required to vacate within 24 hours.
If they do not vacate an application is made to the County Court for a Possession Order and the notice of hearing is then served on the travellers.
Under court rules, travellers must be given three clear days of notice of the hearing, not including the day that the notice was served, the day of the hearing and not including week-ends or bank holidays; which is why it usually takes at least a week to move them on.
If they do not vacate, the Council attends the court hearing and seeks an Order for Possession Forthwith. This is then usually served on the travellers the same day with the instruction that they vacate within 24 hours.
If they still do not vacate, the Police and Bailiffs are called in to assist with the removal.
We reported last week that Sedgemoor District Council revealed that tax payers have footed a bill of £5,400 during the last two years to get travellers moved using the legal process.
Meanwhile, Burnham’s MP James Heappey is currently working on a change to the law to prevent travellers illegally trespassing on land, as Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here this week.
