Thanet council is due to issue a Section 77 notice to leave on Travellers currently based at Ramsgate Port.
A small number of caravans has been on the council-owned site since June 9.
Council officers have carried out welfare checks prior to issuing the notice to quit.
It is an offence for somebody subject to such a notice to fail to leave as soon as reasonably practicable or to re-enter the site within three months of the date on which the notice was given.
If the group do not comply with the Section 77 Notice, Thanet council will need to apply to the court for an Order of Removal.
A Thanet council spokesman said: “We are aware of the illegal traveller encampment that has recently arrived at the Port of Ramsgate. Officers from Thanet District Council are in the process of undertaking the necessary welfare assessments and will then issue the required notices. ”
Further settlements this year have taken place at St Nicholas, Manston Tesco, Dreamland, land by the Manston airport site and Jackey Bakers.
Providing Traveller sites – the law
The Housing Act 2004 and Planning Circular 01/2006, Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites, has put in place a framework which means every local authority has to identify land for the sites that are needed in its area. The Secretary of State has powers that can ensure that those sites are identified, and the Local Government Association (LGA) says local authorities should be proactive in doing so.
The LGA adds: “The provision of these sites removes a major cause of friction between the two communities – unauthorised sites and illegal camping.”
The nearest authorised sites to Thanet are at Aylesham and Canterbury.
Here we go again, playing the expensive game of catch-up and clean-up. Public places need securing to stop illegal occupation then scarce funds would not be wasted on court costs and cleaners. It seems that TDC have pots of money for all these court costs but nothing for important services. Their priorities are all wrong.
Why can’t an order be given to them to leave Thanet! and fine them if they return. Surely that would help solve the problem. Must have the numbers of their vehicles and names.
As someone who was born and bred in Margate and proud of it, I am delighted that TDC is still working to keep the place clean and tidy.I spent the first 16 years of my life playing on the beautiful beach at Walpole Bay until my Dad (Bert Targett) changed jobs from Highways Inspector for TDC to the Highways Inspector for Slough Borough Council in 1966. Happy memories – Keep up the good work! Jill Foster (nee Targett)
strange when ever animal exports are due to leave the port you can’t get near it for police, yet an encampment of travellers can avoid port security and settle down for the summer.
gypsies are back on the road by the manston airport site, they were evacuated from there 2 weeks back. Very funny.