Group of travellers set up camp across from the Blue Planet

A group of approx five traveller caravans/campervans have now set up temporary camp across the road from the empty Blue Planet complex on Lowlands Road.

The group who arrived this morning are parked on Newcastle-Borough-Council land, which will make moving them on easier as the council won't need to track down and wait for the land owner to go through the courts to move them on.

Newcastle-Borough-Council are aware of the encampment and will be starting proceedings with some urgency.

Newcastle BC's policy is as follows

No, the Council must:

• show that the Travellers are on the land without consent;
• make enquiries regarding the general health, welfare and children's education;
• ensure that the Human Rights Acts 1998 has been fully complied with;
• follow a set procedure in terms of proving ownership of land and details of the illegal encampment that will enable them to
• successfully obtain the necessary authority from the Courts to order the Travellers to leave the site.

How long will it take for the Travellers to be removed?
This will depend upon the circumstances of each individual case. The Council will need to take account of the issues outlined above as well as how soon they can obtain a Court hearing date. This will normally take at least one to two weeks.