A group of Travellers have taken over a Tulketh Street car park run by the Council.The last time they were there a massive clean up operation had to take place after they departed because they disposed the contents of of their toilets onto the tarmac.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

A group of Travellers have taken over a Tulketh Street car park run by the Council.The last time they were there a massive clean up operation had to take place after they departed because they disposed the contents of of their toilets onto the tarmac.

Lets hope it's this lot ;-

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...-park-18806827

but I doubt it.

Sefton is the preferred destination on Merseyside with the majority being in Southport and the Kew PnR site being a primary target, £23k has been spent over the past 2 years cleaning up after them.

Originally Posted by Alikado

Lets hope it's this lot ;-

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news...-park-18806827

but I doubt it.

Sefton is the preferred destination on Merseyside with the majority being in Southport and the Kew PnR site being a primary target, £23k has been spent over the past 2 years cleaning up after them.

The authorities are quick to move onto Funland car park to move motorcyclists out of the way of pedestrians but they are pretty slow to act over travellers. Even if they are a minority group they do have to obey British law - there are parking fees to be paid for the use of that site, how come THEY don't have to pay? This payment should be enforced, failure to pay immediately should result in them having to move on or have their vehicles towed away. Same law as applies to the rest of us.

They have no fixed abode. Where do you send the fine too?

Why don’t they set up camp in the pedestrian area in town from marks and Spencer’s to primark, they might as well nobody will do anything cos they are too soft and they know it, there’s lots that could be done but they are having a big laugh at the council and public and this will go on forever every year.

I think if folk want to live like that it’s up to them and good luck to them they don’t have to walk too far to do their shopping but maybe taking up a well used car park like this and messing it up is a step to far but it doesn’t matter as nothing will be done about it. Will the parking company loose money? or will the council compensate them?.
If they loose money that’s ok by me, I don’t care one way or another about travellers and even less about parking companies and wardens jobs .

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

Why don’t they set up camp in the pedestrian area in town from marks and Spencer’s to primark, they might as well nobody will do anything cos they are too soft and they know it, there’s lots that could be done but they are having a big laugh at the council and public and this will go on forever every year.

I think if folk want to live like that it’s up to them and good luck to them they don’t have to walk too far to do their shopping but maybe taking up a well used car park like this and messing it up is a step to far but it doesn’t matter as nothing will be done about it. Will the parking company loose money? or will the council compensate them?.
If they loose money that’s ok by me, I don’t care one way or another about travellers and even less about parking companies and wardens jobs .

The pedestrian area is still classed as a highway, if they were to obstruct it, they could be moved, the car park isn't a highway, and to move them within the law, needs notices being served over a set time period, court applications, etc.

The travelling community probably know the rules better than most solicitors and certainly better than you and I.

Originally Posted by said

The authorities are quick to move onto Funland car park to move motorcyclists out of the way of pedestrians but they are pretty slow to act over travellers. Even if they are a minority group they do have to obey British law - there are parking fees to be paid for the use of that site, how come THEY don't have to pay? This payment should be enforced, failure to pay immediately should result in them having to move on or have their vehicles towed away. Same law as applies to the rest of us.

Have a look at my reply to MICK/GILLY, obstruction can be enforced by the Police, civil matters can't.

Your 'solution' of just towing their vehicles doesn't work. If there's someone in a caravan, it's a dwelling and can't be moved. Threatening to tow their vehicles away prevents them from moving on.

'Same law as applied to the rest of us'!

Sefton CouncilProcedure for HandlingGypsy & Traveller Incursions on Council LandThis
procedure sets out the actions that officers will take when reports of Gypsy/Traveller incursions are reported on Council land and provides a balanced, consistent approach to ensuring that all necessary welfare and legal requirements are met prior to the removal of any incursion. Stage 1 Initial Reporting / Visual Assessment On receiving a report of Travellers being present on Council land a senior officer of the land holding Department will immediately attend at the site. The purpose of this visit will be to assess the accuracy of information provided and to ascertain the situation. Officers are NOT to directly make contact with any persons present and should be accompanied at this visit by another witnessing officer. Required actions:

1] Officers attending site will take photographs of the incursion and confirm whether the infringement is on Council land. If necessary, this will need to be confirmed with the council’s Asset Manager.

2] A written note should be made by the senior officer of the number of caravans and vehicles present, the number of people / animals evident and any activity taking place at site.

3] Officers should also make a visual assessment of how the travellers gained unauthorised access onto the land, making note of any damaged gates, fencing, posts having been removed. Stage 2 Contact Visit / Assessment On having established that an illegal incursion has occurred on Council land the investigating senior officer will report his / her findings to the relevant Head of Serviceand make immediate arrangements (without delay) for a formal return to the incursion site. Required Actions:

1] The Investigating Officer must be accompanied by a second witnessing officer on this visit to make contact with persons involved in the illegal incursion.

2] Merseyside Police must be contacted to accompany officers at this visit and a note made of the police officers name and number and details of what time attendance was made at site. Detailed notes should also be taken of thenumber of caravans, vehicles, persons / animals present on site and any activities taking place there.

3] In accompaniment with the Police, the Investigating Officer will seek to make direct contact with any person(s) present at the site and will makeknown to them that they are occupying Council land and that permission to be present on the land is not given.

4] If those persons present are willing to do so, officers will seek to discuss with them what their intentions are and how long they intendto be present and whether there are any immediate welfare requirements.

5] Officers will serve written notice at this meeting and will either attach to each caravan (or hand to each individual, as necessary) the template letter shown as sub-Appendix 1.

Stage 3 Welfare Requirements The law requires that the Council give due consideration to the welfare needs of the traveller community whenever an incursion occurs and the relevant Head of Servicewill seek advice and guidance in determining theappropriateness of the Department’s response.

1] The Council’s Children Schools and Families Services and Sefton Equalities Partnership will be asked to offer guidance on child protection and other welfare needs, and Health Services will be asked about health needs, prior to making a formal decision about taking legal redress to remove the incursion from Council land.

2] Agencies will be asked to notify the relevant Head of Serviceof any issues or actions from their individual assessments that give rise to concern.

3] Officers will continue to monitor the inclusion on a daily basis for the period and note any changes to the number of caravans or vehicles brought onto site or other changes that may affect the wellbeing of those present or effects on the local community, highway safety, etc.

4] Officers may continue to maintain direct dialogue with persons on site but in all instances no direct contact within persons present must be made unless a second witnessing officer and the Police are present to accompany the visit. Stage 4 Negotiation & Response

The Council will seek to secure the land as soon as is practically possible and to removing any incursion. However, in achieving this the relevant Head of Service may consider it advantageous to consider a period of temporary staywhilst negotiations are ongoing.

1] It is reasonable to allow an unauthorised encampment to remain for a specified maximum period if it is evident that the incursion can be ended by negotiated means. In determining the need for a temporary negotiated stay the relevant Service Director will consider the following factors in determining a decision:

• The size of the encampment relevant to the land (area and/or numbers of vehicles).

• The duration of any negotiated stay requested by Travellers. • The health, safety, education and welfare needs of the Travellers.

• The proximity of the encampment to any sensitive or potentially hazardous sites. • Proximity to roads where a highway danger may ensue.

• The social and environmental behaviour of the Travellers.

• Any known previous behaviour by those Travellers.

• Any known and immediate welfare issues that may affect the securing of a court order. Environmental factors will also need to be considered and the following questions are pertinent:

• Is the incursion on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) where an encampment endangers a sensitive environment or wildlife?

• Is it by a school or playing fields (especially in term time or where pitches are currently being hired)? • Does the incursion affect use of a park and its facilities?

• Is the incursion directly affecting users of recreation facilities? • What is the proximity of the incursion to residential properties and the effects on the local community?

• Is the incursion on a site where pollution from vehicles or dumping could damage ground water or watercourses? • Is the site suffering from contamination or other serious ground pollution? 2] As part of any agreement to temporarily remain on site the Service Director (or a senior manager nominated by him/ her) would expect Travellers to: • Agree to the duration of their stay.

• Provide a named contact where possible.

• Keep groups small -up to 6 caravans may be acceptable, dependent on the location of the encampment. • Be accountable for their behaviour towards the local community and each other. • Respect the environment, the surrounding area and property and the reasonable expectations of the local settled community. • Not create a hazard to road safety or otherwise create a health and safety hazard

. • Not to dump or inappropriately dispose of household, human or trade waste.

• To dispose of all refuse in any containers supplied by or as directed by officers.

• To keep all animals under control.

• Leave the site by the time agreed and in the condition it was upon arrival.

• Not to re-occupy the same area of land within a period of 12 months.

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

Will the parking company loose money?
If they loose money that’s ok by me, .

It’s LOSE, not loose ffs.

Originally Posted by said

The authorities are quick to move onto Funland car park to move motorcyclists out of the way of pedestrians .

No, they are not.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

No, they are not.

Correct. I drove past there on Monday afternoon, it was jam packed with bikers and their bikes. Absolutely no social distancing going on at all.