Travellers have been asked to move on

Between 12-15 caravans pitched-up on the land beside Rothervale Road last week, with more arriving during the weekend.

A spokesman for Chesterfield Borough Council said all the caravans had been asked to leave and the council would be seeking a court order for their eviction if this request was not complied with.

Officers from the council’s housing and environmental health teams visited the site last week to carry out the necessary checks regarding the condition of the site and also to do the legally required welfare checks.

Rubbish bags were also handed out to enable the travellers to keep the area tidy until they moved on.

A nearby resident said they were concerned for children who might want to use the park during the summer holidays.

He added: “There’s a no motorised vehicles sign in the park and it seems unfair that the bikes, quads, cars and mobile homes are all travelling round today when local residents might get fined for such behaviour.”

The Derbyshire Times approached travellers at the site for comment but they declined to say anything.

This latest camp follows another last month at Britannia car park on Hardwick Place near the Holywell Cross roundabout.

The group told Derbyshire Times hey were in the area for a wedding at the time and have since left the site.

When gyspy and traveller communities arrive on a new piece of land police and councils follow set procedures.

Councils cannot usually force them to leave immediately.

Their first duty is to demonstrate that the travellers are on land without consent.

They must also make enquiries regarding general health and welfare at the site.

There are also a number of stages in terms of serving notices and following due processes in the courts to gain the necessary authority to order travellers and gypsies to leave.

Police normally visit all sites reported to them but trespass on land by itself is not a criminal offence.

Prevention of trespass is the responsibility of the landowner, not the police, but they will investigate all criminal and public order offences under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.