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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jonathan Coles

Travellers 'refusing to move' from plush suburb where homes sell for £2million

Travellers are said to be ignoring a council's pleas to move from a park located in a plush London suburb - where homes sell for £2million.

The group set up on Kew Green on Thursday and have reportedly rejected officials who asked them to move on.

The local authority is now having to take legal action to remove the community, a statement said.

Pictures taken on Monday show men, women and children continuing to enjoy the sun - despite the threat of impending eviction.

A total of 12 caravans and "associated vehicles" are said to have arrived last week.

Richmond Council confirmed on Friday it would begin the legal process to obtain and enforce a Possession Order after its requests for the travellers to "move on" were rejected.

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The local council is being forced to take legal action (Colin Jack)

But the council has been forced to warns locals that the process could take "a number of days" due to a recent High Court order.

Handed down last month, this denied the authority's request to extend the previous expedited injunction process.

Instead, the council is now being forced to go via the courts to remove the group.

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts said: "A small group of travellers has arrived in Kew.

Kew is a plush suburb in west London (Colin Jack)

"Council officers will commence the legal action required to expedite their departure.

"Due to a recent court ruling, this process will not be as fast as residents would like and I know that they will be concerned, but we have to work within the law.

"As soon as the travellers leave, we will inspect the area and ensure that any damage is repaired, and waste removed.

"Our park guard officers, along with the police, will be monitoring the site closely until the group depart."

Security staff remain at the site, as well as police (Colin Jack)

The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday that local officers had carried out patrols after the council had served the legal notice.

A post on Twitter said: "We have conducted further patrols around #KewGreen today and are aware @LBRUT have served notices of seeking possession.

"We will continue to work with Richmond Council over the coming days on this matter."

A social media user also alleged that some of the travellers had been using a local alley as a toilet, which the force said it would "keep an eye on".

The commented added: "It's very upsetting."

Kew is located around seven miles south-west from Charing Cross, the notional centre of London.

It boasts the world famous Royal Botanical Gardens and is seen as a desirable place to live.

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