Travellers who set up camp illegally can now be removed more quickly from five key sites in Rushcliffe, after the council was granted a legal injunction.
It now means people can be arrested if they set up an unauthorised camp at: Rushcliffe Arena; Gresham Park; The Hook and West Park in West Bridgford; and at Rushcliffe Country Park in Ruddington.
The injunction, granted yesterday at Nottinghamshire County Court is currently temporary, lasting until the end of this month.
But the Conservative-controlled Rushcliffe Borough Council is now in the process of applying through the courts to extend the the injunction.
A borough-wide injunction was also considered, but it was felt it would infringe on the rights of travellers.
At least 70 unauthorised encampments were set up in the last five years in the borough.
Clear-up operations from just nine of these encampments, on the five sites chosen, have cost the council more than £26,000 in the last five years.
Now, anyone found setting up an encampment at one of the unauthorised sites can be arrested for breach of the order and if held in contempt of court, liable to imprisonment, fined or have assets seized by police.
It comes after Labour-controlled Gedling Borough Council was granted a similar injunction in August, lasting until the end of October.
Councillor Simon Robinson is the leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, and represents the Edwalton ward for the Conservatives.
He said: “This is a significant step, previously the council faced delay in removing groups from its land.
“Seeking injunctions in this manner is required to protect our residents at some of our busiest public sites.
“Our options to take swift action have at times been restricted because powers of arrest or eviction are not always possible but these orders will act as a deterrent and allow us to respond more quickly and effectively with the support of our community safety partners.
“We have been careful the injunction considers any group’s rights to continue to enjoy any associated historic lifestyle.
“A borough-wide injunction was also considered but this does not give scope for groups to exercise these rights, which this authority is keen to protect and as was highlighted in a similar case at the High Court.
"The teams worked very well to secure this injunction and power of arrest and we’ll continue to explore ways in which we can increase our powers to protect our residents from camps at public sites.”
