A popular DIY store was forced to close after a group of travellers parked vans and caravans illegally in the site car park. The unauthorised encampment sprang up during the night earlier this week and images showed at least two caravans, a van and trucks in the area. Gas bottles could also be seen set up outside the mobile homes.
Avon and Somerset Police said the force was alerted to the incident outside the B&Q on Lysander Road, in Patchway, near Bristol, around 9.30pm on Tuesday, October 14. The decision was made to temporarily close the retail outlet and officers liaised with the superstore, landowner and the travellers. The BBC reports the landowner brought in bailiffs to serve notice to the unauthorised camp to move on. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police told the Express: “Police were made aware of an unauthorised encampment in the car park of a DIY store on Lysander Road, Patchway, at about 9.30pm on Tuesday October 14.”
The spokesperson added that “officers attended and spoke with store staff and some of the people from the caravans” and that the landowner “served notice to leave” on Wednesday.
A statement from B&Q said the travellers left the site around 8pm on Wednesday, around 24 hours after they had arrived.
For the removal of an authorised camp, those reporting the incident need to satisfy a number of criteria: the encampment must be shown to be on land without consent, human rights, equalities and other related legislation must be adhered to and enquiries must be made about the health and welfare of the group and the education of any children.
According to Luton Borough Council, sufficient evidence must be gathered to demonstrate to a court of law that the unauthorised encampment is causing detriment or denial of open space usage to the local community.
The site also says that traveller sites can be removed in around four days, although specific circumstances can mean the removal can take much longer.
Advice from Essex County Council adds “a nomadic way of life is not against the law”, and the authority specifies a code which it asks traveller sites to adhere to. However the council also follows a process for removal of unauthorised camps from land where they have pitched without consent.
