COUNCIL chiefs are aiming to speed up the process of evicting illegal traveller camps.
Warwick District Council is investigating the use of an injunction for council owned land. The authority would need to apply to a high court injunction – an order which would automatically allow the council to evict travellers without having to apply for a separate order each time.
The move comes after a recent spate of illegal camps in and around Warwick including two on Myton Fields and one on Saltisford Common.
The council served court orders on both the Myton Field camps, which involved daily visits to the sites to organise legal paperwork. Bailiffs and a tow truck were also employed for the smaller of the two. A notice to leave was also served on travellers at further camp at Saltisford Common.
There have also been a number of camps set up on private land recently including at Myton School, Chase Meadow and Warwick Gates.
District housing spokesman Coun Jan Matecki said the authority was also looking to establish a permanent travellers’ site in the hope of cutting or stopping illegal camps.
He added: “We are also investigating applying for an injunction from the high court banning the setting up of unauthorised encampments on sections of public land in our district, as the process for recovering council owned land is much slower than for land that is privately owned.
“In the meantime, the council’s Neighbourhood Services Rangers are picking up local intelligence on possible incursions to make sure our sites are as locked down and secure as possible.”
The council believes its investment of £200,000 to improve security across the district has cut down on illegal camps which until July, had not been seen in the district for six months.
