Police were called to Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront car park after a group of travellers pitched up last night (Thursday).
Six vehicles, including three lage caravans, arrived in the Esplanade car park near to the B&M store, as pictured here.
Police were called to the southern side of the car park and were seen visiting each caravan to check on the occupants’ plans to leave.
Sedgemoor District Council, which owns the car park, is aware of the situation and is already planning legal action to get the group moved on.
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.
