Update on Travellers

Rochford District Council have issued this press release

September 3, 2019
Unauthorised Travellers leave site in the district.
Rochford District Council can confirm that Travellers who had taken up illegal encampment at Priory Chase, Rayleigh have now vacated the site.
Whilst it is not clear where they have moved to, there are no reports of them elsewhere in the District but council officers will continue to monitor the situation.
Working together with the Police and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit we were able to move the travellers from the location in the shortest time allowed by legislation.

What action have we taken now the travellers have left?

• We've asked officers to send a team to clear the rubbish left behind asap so it doesn't get spread across the area by wildlife or the weather.

• We've asked officers to look into installing a height barrier at Rayleigh Leisure Centre

Clearly there are other ways to prevent these types of incursions in the future (many by increasing policing powers) and they must be explored. We will be looking at our elected Government representatives to give us an update on how and when we can expect this to happen.

(Originally posted on www.onlinefocus.org)