August 26, 2010 5.12 pm This story is over 163 months old

City Council evicts West Common travellers

Evicted: The City Council is seeking legal action to remove a group of unauthorised travellers from the West Common.

— Update @ 5.57pm: The Lincolnite can confirm that the travellers have now left the West Common.

The City of Lincoln Council will be seeking legal action to evict a group of travellers camping without consent on the Lincoln West Common.

Caravans and 4×4 vehicles appeared on the site (pictured) on the night of Friday, August 20, despite this being forbidden by law.

An officer with the City Council visited the site on Wednesday, August 25, to asses whether the group had any social, educational or health needs.

“The travellers told us that they would be moving off the site that afternoon,” said Carolyn Wheater, Head of Corporate Support Services at the City of Lincoln Council.

“During the visit, a letter was given to the occupants of each caravan advising that the council was considering legal action to evict them from its land.

“As the group had told us that they would be moving on, we held off commencing possession proceedings,” Wheater explained.

“Although some families have left, the entire group has not moved on, so we will continue the legal process through the County Court […]”

Trails left in the grass on the West Common by the campers' vehicles.

The travellers took a lock off the gates to the West Common in order to enter, according to nearby resident George Woolfenden quoted by The Lincolnshire Echo.

“Some residents went down there to talk to them and tell them they would have to move on and they were quite polite people,” said Woolfenden.