Many of you will have seen posters like the one above around, promoting the annual IRARA picnic on the Irvine Road Field, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday July 3rd.
Unfortunately, we now have another illegal travellers’ encampment on the field, and although the authorities have begun the necessary legal processes to remove them, it doesn’t look as though they will be gone by the 3rd. Even if they are, it is unlikely that the Field will be fit for use until another major clean up has been done.
They appear to be some of the same travellers who were here three weeks ago, and who before then were evicted from the Hilly Fields where the sturdy steel gate was simply torn off its hinges to gain access.
It seems that Colchester has now been identified as a soft target where the local borough council are happy to allow this squatters’ merry go round and foot the bill for continually cleaning up after them.
Please do not give landscaping or casual work to any unauthorised person who knocks on your door as the trees, vegetation, paving slabs, hardcore or other rubbish they take away will probably be dumped on the Irvine Road Field.
If it is possible to hold the picnic on July 3rd we will let you know. If we have to re-schedule the picnic for the 10th of July we issue new posters. Watch this space.
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS, ROGER BUSTON. IT CONTAINS SOME GOOD INFORMATION AND ADVICE, SO IT IS INCLUDED HERE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY ENDORSEMENT OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY.
· The Essex County Travellers Unit (ECTU) officers visited on 21/06/16 to carry out the initial assessment and start legal proceedings.
· A Direction To Leave will be served on 22/06/16, stipulating 24 hours to vacate.
· ECTU will return on 23/06/16 to proceed with legal action if necessary.
These are the “standard “ procedures : so nothing new there : tho’ I am pleased to note, more prompt following our report, than has been the case before .
On the occasion of another meeting I ( and Cllr Nick Cope) were attending at CBC with the District Commander Colchester Police , Chief Inspector Elliott Judge yesterday in regard to another Council matter , we raised the matter of our unwelcome visitors with him, and asked him to look into whether or not we can explore perhaps new and different solutions to this ongoing problem. I noted in particular the fear and intimidation felt by residents , as well as noting the damage we believe to be criminal undertaken both here and on the Hilly Fields. Our comments were received constructively. CI Judge is committed to our town, and is most understanding of where I explained we are coming from. I will look forward to the possibility of a further meeting specifically on the subject as soon as he has had the opportunity to further consider the matter for us. This is the first opportunity I have had for such a meeting.
I am similarly meeting one of the Executive Directors of CBC later this morning , again, to discuss this matter, and our concerns.
CBC is still unfortunately resisting my calls for better and improved security for the site to avoid yet further expensive and unnecessary incursions such as this. Be assured that we will nonetheless not let up the pressure on CBC in trying to secure this for you. Safety and security of its residents is an infrastructure matter rightly within the remit of CBC. That’s what we all pay our Council Tax for………and of course our visitors don’t……
In the meantime , thank you for all your kind and helpful – and often disturbing – responses . I will respond to all as soon as I can – but as you may imagine , I have very many , and I can’t reply to everyone at once !
As I have noted before please do keep reporting every and any incidents, but in doing so do not attract untoward behaviour or place yourselves in any danger. Please do not take any direct or other action yourselves, or place yourselves in any compromising or dangerous position. Photographic or recorded evidence is always best : particularly of the conduct of the various “businesses” run by these people and any evidence of any dangerous or insanitary practices or of Fly Tipping as has happened before. The Police cannot act let alone press for a prosecution without firm direct provable and personal evidence that can be sustained. If you feel directly threatened or intimidated : 999 is the call. For inconvenience etc , dial 101.