CALLS have been made for better protection for Colchester’s open spaces after travellers pitched up at three different sites in one day.

A group of about 20 caravans first arrived at Colchester Rugby Club, in Mill Road, on Thursday evening.

Essex Police were called to the scene but the caravans remained at the site into Friday morning.

Travellers at Colchester Rugby Club

Travellers at Colchester Rugby Club

Colchester Council was made aware and began the process of attempting to move them on in time for scheduled events to take place at the club over the weekend.

The travellers left the site at around 11.30am on Friday, however, the same group are understood to have moved to High Woods Country Park.

Five police vehicles were spotted at the scene in Fieldview Close where a large group of caravans had made their way on to the park.

Travellers at Fieldview Close, Colchester

Travellers at Fieldview Close, Colchester

Another group of caravans also set up on Squirrels Field, part of High Woods Country Park, around half a mile away.

There was also a third group of caravans in High Woods Country Park.

Ward councillor Martin Goss (Mile End, Lib Dem) said gates had been broken to gain access to the park.

Martin Goss at the Avenue of Remembrance memorial

 

He said: “I have contacted the police to ensure the areas are monitored for anti-social behaviour or damage.

“Residents should report any incidents to them and hopefully they can use their section 61 powers to move them on.

“The issue is once they have moved from the country park they could pitch up somewhere else and it shifts the problem to elsewhere in the borough.”

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Highwoods councillor Gerard Oxford has called for the country park, and other public open spaces, to be given more protection from unauthorised encampments.

Ready to become Colchester mayor cllr Gerard Oxford in the Mayors parlour at the Town Hall..

 

He said: “I have written to the council leader urging urgent action to install automatic commercial bollards in order to protect our open spaces.

“We have a responsibility to protect these sites as well as a responsibility to our residents.”

A Colchester Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that an unauthorised encampment of between 15 and 20 caravans and associated vehicles, which had earlier vacated Colchester Rugby Club, has now separated and moved onto three sites at High Woods Country Park.

“The Police have advised that whilst the criteria for serving a Section 61 direction to leave notice have not been met, a Code of Conduct Form has been issued to each group, and they are continuing to monitor the situation.

“ECTU will visit the groups to carry out initial welfare checks. If there are no immediate health or welfare concerns, the travellers will be asked to leave.

“If the travellers do not leave, we will need to go through the courts to ensure their removal. If we must apply for a court order, the procedure will take between 7-10 days.”

  • Mr Goss and Mr Oxford are standing for election in May's elections.
  • The other candidates in Highwoods are: Diane Baker (Reform UK), Clare Burgess (Green), Kieron Franks (Lib Dem), Jocelyn Law (Lab) and Stephen Rowe (Con).
  • The other candidates in Mile End are: Pauline Bacon (Lab), Amanda Kike (Green) and Rachel Smith (Con)