Court proceedings to remove travellers from council owned land would normally take 10 to 14 days.
Following removal of travellers the land would be cleared of deposited material and wherever possible the site would be secured to deter repeat encampments.
Powers are also available to the Greater Manchester Police to implement proceedings under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 subject to various criteria being met.
Private landowners have a responsibility for securing removal of travellers from land under their ownership and the council provides advice and guidance to assist them.
If travellers purchase land and set up traveller encampments without formal planning approval, the council’s Planning Enforcement Team will carry out investigations and, where necessary, implement formal enforcement proceedings to terminate the unauthorised use of the land.
It should be noted that anyone in receipt of an Enforcement Notice has the option of submitting an appeal to the Secretary of State Planning Inspectorate.
When an appeal is made the requirements of the Enforcement Notice and the period of time allowed to comply with the Notice would be suspended until such time as the appeal decision is given. Enforcement appeals are currently taking several months to complete.
Should you wish to report or make enquiries of a possible unauthorised encampment of travellers please contact us on 01942 489 141 or 489142.
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