A small group of travellers with two mobile homes and one caravan are camped in the car park off Ryleys Lane, adjacent to Alderley Edge park.
Sergeant Steve Sheppard said "They arrived overnight on 5th November and we have no indication from them of how long they will stay, normally until the land owner forces them off. The police have no authority to remove them.
"The car park belongs to Cheshire East Council who have been informed, they will go to court next week and get an order to remove them. It normally takes several days. Once this is served they have 72 hours to leave or face prosecution."
Councillor Duncan Herald added "I spoke with the travellers this morning, two young men who were very friendly. They told me that they were genuine Irish travellers and one of the young men told me that they would be staying just a few days."
I have just learnt that wardens have already visited the site to carry out the welfare checks and leave rubbish bags. This group, consisting of six adults and ten children, were apparently moved off private land earlier in the week. There are no welfare issues and the travellers have said they will be gone by Monday.
The Race Relations Act 1976 and the Human Rights Act 1998, stipulate that gypsies and travellers are protected from discrimination, together with all ethnic groups who have other cultures, languages or values.
If travellers are camped on council land without permission the council can evict them. However, they cannot remove the travellers from their land immediately. They need to follow the correct procedure which involves proving that the travellers are camped on the land without consent and carrying out a welfare assessment to take into account certain factors, such as illness, education and employment, before they proceed to court for a possession order.
If the travellers do not vacate the land on the required date the bailiffs will carry out the eviction process.
Comments
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Oh, well that's alright then.
I would guess that being friendly and saying that the stay will only be a few days might be the 'default position' of travelers?
The parish council notified the Cheshire East authority and the police as soon as the travelers were spotted.
As Lisa's article suggests, there is not much that can be done, in the short term...whether one likes it or not, there are legal 'protections' in place re. travelers.
Hopefully all will pass shortly; Cheshire East will turn up at Court asap and begin the process of moving on the travelers, if the travelers do not move on of their own accord.
So far no damage...fingers crossed.
On the traveller issue it is only a matter of time til they move on either voluntarily or not but that will still mean I can't use the car-park for it's intend purpose! I just hope they clear up after themselves.
At last night's Parish Council meeting, we were told that a 'shortcut' would be used whereby C.E. would write to the travelers (hand delivered?) saying that C.E. as the owners of the land wanted the travelers to quit the car park; then there has to be a wait (72 hours?) after which the police would then have the power to move on the travelers.
All this is hearsay, so if I'm wrong, please don't 'shoot the messenger'.
Councillor Duncan Herald
If you were a traveler, would a notice saying 'keep out' actually keep you out?
It has been suggested that a barrier be put up each evening; but late night users of the car park might not be too amused at having their cars 'locked in'.
Maybe we just have to live with the occasional 'situation'?
When I spoke with them they seemed quite a 'jolly' group. It wouldn't suit me but I too wish them good luck; though with a touch of hypocrisy, as I am 'doing a nimby'.
My understanding is that once a court order is served the travellers normally have 72 hours to leave or face prosecution.
"I have just come away from Alderley Park - Cheshire East papers are attached to a post giving the travellers until 18:00 hrs on the 11 Nov to vacate the site."