TRAVELLERS have been given 48 hours to leave a Cleethorpes field – and the leader of the council says they'll be in court tomorrow unless they comply.
Officials from North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) visited the former Lindsey School site in Taylor's Avenue to hand out eviction notices yesterday, giving the travellers 48 hours to leave.
NELC leader Councillor Chris Shaw (Lab, Sidney Sussex) spoke out after the notices were served, saying that legal proceedings have already begun.
He said: "The council took immediate action to try to prevent further unauthorised use of the site.
"We have now served a direction requiring them to leave the land immediately.
"All things being equal, we will have them in court on Wednesday morning if they don't go."
However, the travellers told the Telegraph they don't plan to stay for a long time – but struggle to find places where they can pull up.
Debbie Smith, 45, said: "We've had some family problems in Doncaster and we're just here for a few days until things die down back at home.
"We're not doing anyone any harm here – we all just want to live a peaceful life, but a few people have given travellers a bad name."
There are about five vehicles at the site belonging to two families, one of nine and one of seven.
One of the travellers, who did not want to be named, said that people have the wrong impression of them – she claims because of documentaries such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
She said: "There are lots of different kinds of travellers – English, Scot, Irish and different kinds within those as well.
"We're Irish travellers but not the bad kind like you see on TV – we don't want to make any trouble."
In April, a different set of travellers set up shop in the Boating Lake car park in Cleethorpes, later moving on to land off Riby Street in Grimsby, owned by NELC. And around 20 years ago, the Taylor's Avenue site was occupied by travellers for around a year.
Mr Shaw's strong words and decisive action from NELC came after Councillor Keith Brookes (Con, Haverstoe) said he feared that more travellers would arrive unless something was done.
The land is owned by North East Lincolnshire Council and was not taken on by Cleethorpes Academy, which took over the former Lindsey school and associated land on the opposite side of the road on a 125 year lease.More news on grimsbytelegraph.co.uk Bookmark grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news for the best breaking news and exclusive local content.
