A number of travellers are still living on an unofficial site near Exeter tonight - despite a deadline for them to leave the land. Many say they'll defy the authorities' efforts to move them to a new site next door.
A number of travellers are still living on an unofficial site near Exeter - despite a deadline passing for them to leave the land.
The new site near Exeter racecourse has been built with over a million pounds of government grants. Each of the fifteen pitches for caravans and mobile homes has its own cabin with bathroom, washing facilities and storage. But many of the people on the adjacent unofficial site say they have no intention of moving there. Despite the efforts of the council they say it's not suitable for their communal lifestyle. They don't want to live with barriers, a warden and CCTV, and they don't have the money for the rent, council tax, and other bills they'd have to pay.
Cllr John Goodey, Teignbridge Council Housing and Planning, says: "We've worked very closely with the Gypsy and Traveller Council. We've worked very closely with the Environment Agency and other authorities on what we should be doing up there, and what we've come up with is innovative. It's a new traveller's site. It's one of the first in the country. We're obligated to provide this provision. We can't just evict people off the land and hope that they'll find somewhere to live. As an authority we have a duty of care to residents even if they are living up there illegally."
The first caravan moved to the new site over the weekend, and Teign Housing says it's expecting 12 pitches to be occupied in the coming days. People still on the unsanctioned site have been issued with notices to move.
But it may be some considerable time before this site is cleared. The authorities will serve injunctions on those who are reluctant to leave, and if necessary they are prepared to use force.
The council will then restore the area to forest again.
John Goodey says: "What we've got up there is an accumulation of something like 13 years of illegal site. There're over 50 vehicles in various states of dilapidation up there. Most of them unoccupied and falling apart. It is going to be quite a task to clear it. But we have contractors ready to move on to the site once it is vacated and we can safely move on there."
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