A group of travellers who set up an illegal camp on a Weston-super-Mare park have been moved to a ‘less sensitive site’.
The group of six caravans, three cars and a van arrived at the park at Clarence Park East on Monday night.
North Somerset Council carried out welfare checks on the group and said they were looking for an alternative site for them.
The travellers moved off the site yesterday evening and were placed at a ‘less sensitive site.’
It is understand the new location is owned by the authority.
The council will not say where the site is – although the group are still in the Weston-super-Mare area.
North Somerset Council spokeswoman Zoe Briffitt said: “We visited the group of travellers in Clarence Park and concluded our welfare checks.
“We have now arranged alternative temporary stopping provision in a less sensitive location in the Weston area.
"To respect the privacy of the group the council won't comment on where they have been moved to."
The authority stopped short of issuing notices to quit the site and moving forward with eviction procedures due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
Mrs Briffitt added: “This approach was developed in consultation and with the support of the local police team and reflects the latest guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council on dealing with unauthorised encampments during the Covid19 restrictions.
“The reason the group was asked to move to a temporary stopping place is because the encampment was in a public park and was taking up a significant amount of space.
“This restricted use by the public particularly at a time when people need to socially distance. The encampment also created the risk of tensions between the settled and traveller community due to it being highly visible and we were particularly mindful of the impact this could have on the welfare of the children in the group.
“The move happened late yesterday under our direct supervision and adequate provision was made to safeguard public health.
“Whilst located at Clarence Park neither the police nor the council received significant complaints in relation to the behaviour of the group and they fully co-operated with the relocation, bagging and neatly stacking any rubbish for an arranged collection.
“We will be encouraging any travellers to North Somerset to return to their home base in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.”
North Somerset is a popular stop off with travellers during the summer months when they arrive in the district looking for work.
Currently the council has no transient sites for travellers where they can be moved onto.
However the district does offer a number of permanent pitches for the travelling community including the Willowmead site and a newly developed site at the Old Junction Yard, both in Weston-super-Mare.
