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Camping without permission

 
Everyone has rights - gypsies, travellers and landowners - we do our best to balance the rights of all those involved.

The government has advised that illegal gypsy sites can be tolerated, as long as they don't cause problems or contravene planning regulations. This means we can view every case on its merits.

To report an unauthorised camp, or get advice on evictions, use the contact details on the right.

On council land - what we do

If travellers are camped on council land without permission, the first thing we do is visit the site and see if it is causing any problems. We will make every effort to make sure the travellers keep the site tidy and do not cause any public health problems, providing refuse collection if necessary.

The council cannot remove travellers from the land immediately - we must:

  • show the travellers are on the land without consent
  • make enquiries about general health, welfare and children's education
  • ensure the Human Rights Act 1998 is complied with
  • follow procedure proving who owns the land etc so we can get a Court to order the travellers to leave.
This process may take some time.

On private land - what landowners can do

Travellers camped on private land are the landowners' responsibility. We suggest you talk to them and see if a leaving date can be agreed. If you decide to let them stay on your land for a while, you must either:

  • have planning permission for a caravan site, or
  • be a farmer and the travellers are helping with fruit picking etc.
If not, we can take proceedings against the landowner to remove the illegal camp.

You can decide to evict the travellers yourself by going to County Court under Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and getting a Court Order. There must be two clear days between service of documents and the court hearing.

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