TRAVELLERS who pitched up on Harpenden Common yesterday (Thursday) afternoon have now left the site.
Thirteen caravans arrived on the common around 3.30pm and remained overnight.
Police worked alongside Harpenden Town Council to issue a section 61 notice to leave the site this morning.
They group had until 1pm to leave, but vacated the site at around 11.40am.
Town Clerk, John Bagshaw, has praised the Harpenden Safer Neighbourhood team for their response.
“We’re very grateful to the Neighbourhood Team for responding so positively and ensuring that the common is returned for public use,” he said.
“We want to keep the common available to all members of the community and having an encampment in one location was detracting from this.”
Harpenden Mayor, Cllr Michael Weaver, said he was disappointed that police had not taken action yesterday and that residents were deeply upset by the experience.
A spokesperson for Herts Police said action was not taken sooner as the group were not causing a nuisance to the public.
See next week’s Herts Ad for more reaction.
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