Police and council notified as Traveller group set up at rear of Newington primary school field

A Traveller group on fields at the rear of Newington primary Photo Nic Godfrey

Police and Thanet council have been notified following the arrival of a Traveller group on fields at the rear of Newington primary school.

The group set up on the fields yesterday (July 7) and are understood to have moved from the Westcliff. A separate group who had been on Dane Valley Green has now vacated that site.

Complaints have been made of rubbish and faeces being thrown over the fence into the school play area.

Photo Sarah 

The issue of Travellers setting up unauthorised camps is due to be raised at Thanet council on Thursday (July 11) by Dane Valley councillor Gary Taylor. He will be asking how the new administration is going to tackle the expensive Traveller incursions.

There are currently no authorised pitches in Thanet district. A report commissioned by Thanet council says the district should provide five Traveller pitches -to accommodate 10 caravans – in the five year period up to 2022 and then an additional two pitches – equating to four more caravans- by 2031.

There were 50 unauthorised camps in Thanet last year, compared to just two in 2013. There have been at least 20 this year, mainly consisting of groups moving from one isle site to another.

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

There have also previously been calls for 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.

In February Thanet council said 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.”

5 Comments

  1. Why are the taxpayers of Thanet constantly paying out court fees and Labour cost to keep moving gangs of trespassing travellers around THANET?? How did they gain access to the field, I guess they cut the padlock off.
    Why can’t the council apply for a blanket ban from the courts to ban any caravan or motohome from illegal parking and it will be removed without notice to save more court cost. One of the motorhomes in the photo cost nearly £60,000 so they are not poor homeless.

  2. well lets see when this meeting comes up how much backbone our councils have got we should all be asking for free council tax like these piss taking gipsies go in with riot police they will understand this pretty quick GET THE LAW CHANGED SEND THEM TO PRISON AND USE THEIR EXPENSIVE CARAVANS TO PAY FOR THE COSTS SO FAR!!!

  3. Why on earth would the Council want to provide an authorised camp or agree to authorised stopping when these “travellers” behave in such a disgusting, uncivilised and anti-social manner wherever they go ?

    They always leave every area littered with their rubbish and faeces – and they have now reached an all-time low by throwing their rubbish and faeces into the school playground.

    TDC needs to take a harder line. Why cannot bailiffs be used to evict them under common law in less time than it takes to make application for a court order, await a hearing, serve the notice, etc., etc. ?

  4. TDC need to apply for the same order Canterbury Council has so they can be evicted before they settle in any public area. They have facilities in Canterbury but they are very little used so why should our Council go to such expense here when it will not be used. Get a blanket ban from the courts and be done with them uncivilised people and save on endless court fees.
    I would love to know how much they have cost Thanet in court fees and clear up expenses since the increase. Make them pay it back to the area in fines.

  5. The question needs to be asked. People need to made aware that employing these sub standard people to work for you encourages them to return time and time again. People need educating and yes, an official site needs to be made, next to richbourough recycling centre, the smelly side. Lastly, drop a full skip at their entrance, stop them leaving, that way they wont be woring on rubbish drives and patios etc.

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