Travellers have promised to vacate a playing field by early evening so a sport and fitness event can go ahead tomorrow (Tuesday July 21).
On Friday about four caravans and several vehicles arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Playing Field in Blacon Avenue, Blacon, but police issued them with a notice to vacate the site by 6pm this evening (Monday July 20).
This means the Energise Blacon community event, taking place on the field between 11am and 3pm tomorrow, should be able to take place after all.
One of the travellers, John Walker, said the group was leaving about 5 or 6pm, headed for Lancashire.
He said: “The police have been round asking how long we were staying and all that. We’re just moving all around. We don’t stay in one town very long.”
A female traveller, who said everyone in the caravans was from the same family, confirmed the group was going “in an hour’s time”. She was aware of the planned event on the field but said: “We’re moving off any way.”
The woman said locals had been friendly enough. “We don’t bother them and they don’t bother us,” she commented.
She said travellers in the group were normally settled in their own houses in various parts of the country but had decided to hit the road as “a break” with the children.
The Direction to Leave Land notice, issued by police under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, asked all persons on the site to leave along with their property and vehicles. The notice, signed by Inspector Brian Green, stated: “I have the power to give this notice because two or more persons are trespassing on this land and are present here with the purpose of residing here and reasonable steps have been taken by or on behalf of the occupier to ask them to leave...”
Those subject to the notice are threatened with arrest and possible prosecution if they ‘fail to leave the land as soon as reasonably practicable or reenter the land as a trespasser within three months”.
