A group of travellers recently moved on from St Albans’ Verulamium Park have driven across the road and parked up there instead.
On Monday eight caravans, a caravanette, and a number of cars illegally parked on the piece of green between Westminster Lodge and Verulamium lake - St Albans district council assessed the situation and obtained a legal order for them to leave today (September 15).
The group moved half a mile away, onto Graham Close in the Griffiths Way retail park, on the site of an old gasworks earmarked for a new retail development.
National Grid own the land, commenting it was in the process of “taking necessary legal measures” for eviction: “At present we are unable to give a date for when the eviction will take place, but we are working together with the local police and our solicitors to ensure this takes place as soon as possible. We have informed local residents of our plans.
“Once we have regained possession, the site will be re-secured and the waste removed in order to restore the site to its previous condition.”
A police car was at the impromptu camp this morning. A spokesperson from Herts Police said: “Officers became aware of travellers setting up on land in Griffiths Way, St Albans, overnight.
“The land owner has been informed and police officers are continuing to monitor the situation.”
The latest invasion comes after a number of traveller camps have been set up around the district over the past few months - including on Colney Heath’s Roestock Lane in June and on Harpenden Common in August.
What do you think? Let us know at hertsad@archant.co.uk
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