Travellers illegally parked at two council owned sites in North Somerset have been issued with notices to quit
A group of travellers arrived at the Beach Lawns in Weston-super-Mare over the weekend.
This is one of many groups which have set up camp on the seafront over the summer.
The group, which consists of eight caravans and associated vehicles, were visited by North Somerset Council officers yesterday and welfare checks carried out.
The group has been given notice to quit the site today.
If they do not leave, the council will be forced to apply to the magistrates court to move them on.
Local residents have already complained that the group has made a mess on the site, leaving bin bags full of rubbish strewn across the lawns.
Another group have parked up at Kilkenny Park in Portishead near the picnic area.
It is understood this group arrived towards the end of last week.
Council officers visited the group, comprising of a camper van, three caravans and other vehicles, yesterday to carry out checks.
This group has also been issued with a notice to quit the site.
The park, which also has a picnic area, is a popular spot with families, local residents and dog walkers.
If the group fail to leave by the end of the day, North Somerset will apply to the magistrates court for an order to evict them.
There was also a group of travellers parked on land at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre - one of several encampments of the site this summer.
But these have left of their own accord.
Council spokeswoman Zoe Briffitt said: “We currently have two illegal encampments in the district.
“Our officers have visited both sites and carried out welfare checks
“Both groups have been issued with notices to quit.
“If they fail to leave we will be taking action through the courts to remove them.”
The cash strapped council has already spent thousands of pounds on dealing with illegal traveller camps this summer.
There have been a number of illegal encampments across the area this year - including a number on the Beach Lawns.
And although the groups have moved off after being served eviction notices, they often move just a few miles away, leaving the council to go through the process again.
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.
