Travellers evicted from Dreamland this morning have parked up in Ramsgate

Leaving Dreamland this morning Photo Christopher Gadd

Travellers who were evicted from the council owned car park by Dreamland this morning have now moved on to the Marina Esplanade car park in Ramsgate.

The group, that had been at the Margate site since January 4, were evicted  after a court order for removal was ignored. There were around 26 caravans at the site according to residents whose properties overlook the area.

They left following the arrival of enforcement officers this morning (February 11).

Photo Nick Jones

But at least 12 of the caravans travelled directly to Marina Esplanade, followed by police and enforcement officers.

There are also reports of caravans at the Manston airport site with fencing being removed at the Minster end to allow access.

Thanet council may now have to begin the entire removal process again.

A spokesman called it “frustrating.”

A check of those on site will now have to take place and TDC will need to return to the courts to ask for a Section 77 removal notice to be granted.

It is an offence for somebody subject to such Section 77 removal 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.

A spokesman from the Friends, Families and Travellers organisation said a lack of official sites is forcing groups to pull up on public land and not enough is being done to address that issue.

They added: “It would appear that there is a need in Thanet for authorised sites to be built. We would recommend that the district council and local authority work with the Traveller community in the area to identify land that would be suitable for building new sites to accommodate these residents.”

There have been calls for an authorised camp for the isle and Negotiated Stopping – a contract between mobile Travellers and councils that allow the Travellers to camp for up to three months on specified areas of vacant council land.

Thanet council say an authorised site could be considered. The spokesman said: “Legislation states that the provision of authorised sites is the responsibility of the county council, which is KCC. There is some consideration being given to whether there needs to be an assessment of the level of provision required.”

Read here: Travellers staying at the council car park by Dreamland have been evicted

18 Comments

  1. By now it should be clear this will happen. We need a police presence at other nearby sites during the eviction. Its just going round in a circle. They will be back at dreamland in 3 months i expect. Just in time to spoil the summer.

  2. I would love to park my car in a council run car park for 3 months and not pay the car park charges that everyone else has to pay!! These people make no monetary contribution to Thanet, it’s just take, take, take and leave rubbish that we as council tax payers have to pay, to clear up after them. They should be escorted out of Thanet.

      • Insurance and tax is very simple for anyone to check out but you feel the police do not have the facilities to do this?

    • They don’t shop in Thanet.. But fuel..drink…eat..all adds to the local economy. You want Travellers banished from Thanet? What about the many settled Travellers that live in the area? Would you like them banished too. Any other ethnic minority you might want out?

  3. Another year and we are off to a good start. How many incursions last year? Dozens, each costing the tax payer for court costs and enforcement by police, and council inspections for well-being. No wonder the council need more savings on other essentials. The costs should be claimed back from those not moving on when ordered to. Clamp the vehicles and tow them away until the fines are paid, just like anyone else having have to cough up. Stop allowing this blatant discrimination of law-abiding people to look after those who have total disregard for anything lawful. Untaxed vehicles, fly-tipping, door-to-door conning of the elderly with fake roofing claims, teenagers running riot, not at school just to name a few. We don’t want a site in Thanet which they can trash and expect free services on us. Use those court orders to stop them travelling from one site to another then back again. Charge them for illegal entry onto private estates by breaking-in. Criminal damage, whatever and make them pay instead of pandering to them.
    I think this was fair to say considering how annoying this has become.

    • Your comments are stereotypical racism! What many might agree is Thanet doesnt need is racists holding back a more multi-cultuted community. When you speak of “we” just who do you think you are representing? Surely not those who welcome diversity. Your comments are virtually the grunts of a caveman..wake up to the new Thanet.

      • I don’t see how Kent Resident’s comments can be described as racist. Actually diversity also refers to things other than ethnicity. Things such as opinion. If you can counter what Kent Resident says with facts to the contrary, that would be more convincing than insulting people who disagree with you.

  4. I don’t think the problem is that there aren’t any authorised sites locally. The problem from their perspective is that there aren’t any sites locally where they can rock up and not pay anything for weeks and cause a huge mess. Other people with caravans who pay for their stays don’t seem to have an issue finding local sites. When someone’s “way of life” revolves around dumping rubbish, using the surrounding area as a toilet and working on the black economy you can understand why law abiding, tax paying citizens get annoyed.

    Still, another few weeks of tiptoeing past piles of human faeces down Ramsgate seafront beckons !

    • You know the perceptions of a people alien to you? How clever of you. The rest of your claims seem to be just as unlikely and unfounded. Spouting idiotic claims you have read in the trashy Sun newspaper is not too convincing.

  5. Must be lots of people in thanet and the surrounding area that are giving them work. If there wasn’t any work why would they be here ? Does seem a bit of a game , get moved of one site and than just move to another and we pay for this game must be costing us thousands

    • Ever considered they want to live here as much the same way as you do? Shouldn’t they have the same right as you to achieve that goal? If not why not?

  6. Travellers are Considered statutorily homeless. A transit or permanent site would go to resolving a lot of issues. People posting stereotypical claptrap won’t.

  7. I understand the travellers have just realised they are under the flight path and have accordingly told the council re-opening the airport breaches their human rights.

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