Jun 13, 20183 min read

Any negative interaction with the travellers must be reported to the police

A section 77 has now been served on the travellers on Duke Street park and a court slot reserved for Monday morning. It is suspected that the travellers will leave of their own accord on Sunday evening.

In the meantime, Sefton Council are stepping up security patrols in the area.

Merseyside Police have said that they are taking a step back from the situation but will intervene if there is any trouble. Merseyside Police have asked that if anyone experiences interaction of a negative manner in any way, it must be reported to 101. If it is not reported, there will obviously be no action so please report anything to 101.

UPDATE: Wednesday 13th June at 9:30am

Sefton Council are aware of the travellers on Duke Street park and are in talks with Merseyside Police as to the best way forward.

Merseyside Police are happy with the situation as to no conflict at the moment. Due to the new powers concerning travellers, If they had broken into the site, the police could have enforced removal immediately but due to the gate on Duke Street being left open, that cannot happen.

Sefton Council, has now got to take control of the situation but is bound by a legal process. A Section 77 Notice will have to be served on the Travellers at 1:30pm today and if they do not move on, the land owner will have to obtain a signed summons from the court which will be served on the Travellers. This summons provides the Travellers notice of a court date, whereby, Sefton Council will seek a removal order. On possession of the removal order, Sefton Council will then arrange for the Travellers to be removed, if they have not vacated prior to this themselves. This could take until Monday to happen.

Residents have shown frustration over this issue and in particular their concerns regarding anti-social behaviour of the Travellers and any such incidents should continue to be reported to the police on 101.

We will keep you updated on the situation.

Original story - Tuesday 12th June at 10pm:

The travellers that descended on Formby earlier today, Tuesday 12th June, have now left the National Trust site at Lifeboat Road and have descended on Duke Street Park via the open gate.

There appears to be around forty caravans and vehicles on the Phillips Lane side of the park that take up virtually the whole length of the park.

Travellers on Duke Street Park

Travellers on Duke Street Park

The open gate on Duke Street Park

Original story Tuesday 12th June at 3pm:

An unauthorised encampment of travellers has moved into Lifeboat Road in Formby this morning, Tuesday 12th June 2018. The site, which now belongs to the National Trust has been descended on by at least fifteen travellers vans along with cars.

A spokeswoman from National Trust Formby said: "Approximately 15 traveller vehicles are currently parked on land looked after by the National Trust at Lifeboat Road, Formby. This area is open to the public to enjoy and is an important area for conservation also. We are liaising closely with the police to serve notice to leave. We will continue to monitor the situation and have asked the police to do so too."

A spokeswoman from Merseyside Police said: "This is a civil matter between the land owners and the travellers. We will monitor the situation and see how it goes."

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: "Sefton Council provide a permanent site for Gypsies and Travellers in Sefton. The site is located at Red Rose Park, Broad Lane, Formby L37 0AH."

"We do not provide a transit site for Gypsies and Travellers moving through the borough seeking a short stay. As a result this can lead to unauthorised encampments. We have an Unauthorised Encampment Policy to manage these encampments in a way that addresses both the support needs of the Gypsies and Travellers and the rights of the settled community."

In order to move the Travellers, the land owner, in this case, The National Trust, is bound by a legal process. A Section 77 Notice will be served on the Travellers and if they do not move on, the land owner will have to obtain a signed summons from the court which will be served on the Travellers. This summons provides the Travellers notice of a court date, whereby, the National Trust will seek a removal order. On possession of the removal order the National Trust will then arrange for the Travellers to be removed, if they have not vacated prior to this themselves. This could take a week or more.

The National Trust is doing all that it can to seek the removal of the Travellers.