Colchester's Axial Way sees travellers set up camp

Members of a travelling community have pitched up on land off Axial Way, Colchester Council has confirmed.

Residents have said the "unauthorised encampment" has been at the site since at least Sunday evening. 

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “We are aware of an unauthorised encampment, which has set up on land owned by the council at Axial Way, and both the Police and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) have been informed.

“ECTU will visit the site to carry out initial welfare checks. If there are no immediate welfare or health concerns, such as pregnancy or illness requiring medical supervision, the travellers will be asked to leave the site.

“If the travellers do not leave the site, we will need to go through the courts to ensure their removal.

"If we have to apply for a court order, the procedure will take between 7-10 days.”

The latest encampment comes after 18 travellers previously pitched up on Hilly Fields in May, having moved on from land in Mill Road.

The Gazette understood their decision to move came hours before a court order would have required them to leave.

Around the same time, another encampment also set up camp close to Axial Way, with pictures showing as many as 20 caravans near the Northern Gateway Leisure Park.

In addition, dogs, work vans and three horses were also seen on the land, which is close to the junction of Via Urbis Romanae and Axial Way.

Response - David King, leader of Colchester Council (Image: Newsquest)

David King, leader of Colchester Council and ward councillor for Mile End, has now moved to reassure residents over the most recent encampment.

He said: "We recognise the upset and concern that traveller incursions cause local residents both at this location and nearby.

"We will as ever respond firmly and quickly to ensure removal is swift, clean up follows as necessary and that any learning including security reinforcements where that is practical is implemented and followed through."

Martin Goss, councillor for Mile End, said he reported the encampment to authorities over the weekend.

He said: "In effect, we are only about 24 hours into this legal process - the travellers know this, they know the law inside-out.

“The Essex Traveller Unit are dealing with this – they know their history and intentions. They will visit the site, ask them to leave – and they will, probably. 

"It has to go through that legal process, you can’t just remove people.“If people are concerned or feel threatened, they should contact 101 in a non-emergency and 999 in an emergency.

“That’s all the advice we give – people should be able to walk their dog on the field.