Travellers cause park run cancellation

Torbay Velopark is blocked

Saturday's Torbay Parkrun is cancelled, after travellers moved onto the land on which it takes place.

The trespassers are currently at Torbay Velopark in Paignton, having been there all week, and were due to be served with court papers for their eviction on Friday afternoon.

Torbay Council went to court in the morning for the latest stage in its legal battle to regain possession of the cycle track and the land around it.

Travellers moved in on Sunday afternoon, shortly after a stand-off at nearby Galmpton Warborough Common, where a large number of police units attended. Some travellers managed to get vehicles onto the common, despite huge boulders around the perimeter designed to keep them off.

Local people then used their own vehicles to block the way before any more of the large group of travellers could get on. 

Shortly afterwards, a large number of cars, vans and caravans were driven on to the velopark.

Sports activities on the cycle track have been cancelled throughout the week, the latest casualty being the Torbay Parkrun, which was due to take place on the morning of Saturday 24 June.

Organisers posted on social media: “Parkrun cancelled. Very sorry we have had to make the decision to cancel; the travellers have been served notice but it isn’t guaranteed they will leave and if they do the site isn’t suitable to run on until cleaned and checked.

“Thank you always to the police, Torbay Council and the leisure centre for their support, hard work and keeping us informed.”

Torbay Council has a set of welfare procedures which it uses every time a group of travellers arrives and sets up camp in a public place.

A council spokesman said earlier today: “We are now at court seeking possession. If agreed, we will be serving the papers this afternoon.”

The travellers at the velopark have a number of horses with them, and have been exercising them on nearby Goodrington beach during the week. The council does not make any special arrangements for the animals.

The council spokesman went on: “We don't carry out animal welfare checks but, if on a visit we had cause for concern, we would contact the RSPCA.”