The Council is aware of the travellers (thank you for all the residents who got in touch with us). They intend to apply for a court order tomorrow to move them on but – if granted – there are then legal requirements, which the Council can’t change, about serving it, and then allowing some time to pass to see if it is going to be complied with before we can instruct bailiffs. We understand that the earliest that can happen is Wednesday.
Most traveller groups know the procedure as well as the Council does and move on themselves without the need for bailiffs, which is what we hope will happen here. However the Police have powers that the Council doesn’t and can escort them away if there is evidence of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage etc. The Police will visit the travellers tonight to make this point to them.
The pre-school group will be continuing tomorrow as normal but the Brooklands Pavilion staff are contacting other users to let them know about the situation. It’s very unlikely however that there will be much football over the weekend as the travellers are parked on the Youth pitches. For the longer term the Pavilion will be looking at permanent barriers that can be erected to stop any vehicles other than for maintenance getting onto the pitches.