Legal moves begin to evict Exeter travellers

Calls for tougher deterrents

Legal steps have begun to move a group of travellers away from a busy car park in Exeter.

Parking bays were blocked at the Isca Bowling Centre in Summer Lane by a convoy of vehicles which arrived on Monday evening.

The club secretary said the vehicles, including a reported 20 caravans, had parked across a set of accessible car parking spaces intended for disabled club members.

Secretary Sara Thomas said: “It’s getting ridiculous. We have cancelled our league games and social activities due to the volume of caravans.”

The encampment has been reported to police and to Exeter City Council.

Ward councillor Liz Pole (Lab, Mincinglake and Whipton) said on social media that local Labour councillors had been pushing for better deterrents around the site, which is close to Exeter Arena.

Earth embankments have been constructed to protect the Eastern Fields from the western entrance, and there are bollards along the car park. The height barriers are currently being manufactured and are due to arrive in April, but Cllr Pole said she would be asking for an update.

And, she added: “Officers are working with a barrister on renewal of the injunction, and what we need is for residents to report in both any criminal activity and anti-social behaviour that is connected with unauthorised encampments – as we saw for instance last time – and any feeling of being unsafe.”

The city council has a detailed protocol to follow when travellers arrive on its land. This involves visiting the site to assess welfare needs, issuing a ‘Direction to Leave’ notice, which typically happens within 24 hours, and, if necessary, applying to the County Court for an eviction order to regain possession. 

A spokesman for the city council said: “We are aware of the situation and are taking legal steps to regain possession of the land.”