Jun 19, 20192 min read

Travellers camp has been set up on National Trust land on Lifeboat Road in Formby

An unauthorised encampment of travellers has moved into Lifeboat Road in Formby last night, Tuesday 18th June 2019. The site, which belongs to the National Trust has been descended on by at least fifteen travellers vans along with cars. Lifeboat Road car park leads to one of the most popular beaches on our Sefton coast which incorporates Formby Point and the Boardwalk.

Last year, the travellers landed on Lifeboat Road on 12th June but quickly moved out and then descended on Bills Lane the same night.

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.

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.

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."

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