Travellers are ordered to leave illegal camp site

Council officers were granted permission to move Travellers on after they had illegally set up camp on land near Staveley.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, July 17, how Chesterfield Borough Council’s housing team was informed on July 11 Travellers had arrived at Norbriggs, near Staveley, and a council visit revealed 13 vehicles at the site.

Council housing officer Richard Asher told the court: “We delivered a direction to leave on July 13 between 10am and 11.30am.

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“It was served in a plastic wallet and handed to the occupants of the caravans and put on windscreen wipers and under steps.”

The notices were also posted at access points to the site and at the entrance of the nearby Lowgates A619 road and they were fixed to gates including Riverdale Park estate and at the end of Bellhouse Lane, according to Mr Asher.

Mr Asher added a further check was made on July 16 and cars and caravans were still present so a summons was served but vehicles were still present on July 17.

District Judge Andrew Davison suggested an alternate, legal permanent site should be recommended to the Travellers to prevent them moving from one illegal site to another.

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Solicitor Stephen Oliver, representing the council, said other Travellers have previously been advised of such sites in neighbouring boroughs.

District Judge Davison stated he believed these Travellers would have been well aware of the council directions and application to remove them from the site.

He subsequently granted the council’s application and ordered the direct removal of persons and vehicles.