Taking steps to find travellers a new site
A group of travellers who have been staying at a park and ride in Bath for nearly two weeks are being given a helping hand by the council.
The contingent, comprising half a dozen campervans and cars, arrived at Lansdown Park and Ride at the end of September.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has been monitoring the situation during this time.
Last week the council said it had instigated the first steps towards taking legal action against the travellers at the site, just off Lansdown Road.
While that is ongoing, the council is now looking to find the travellers with another place to stay.
A B&NES spokesman said: “The council is continuing to monitor the situation at Lansdown and is working to secure the families suitable pitches.
“In the meantime, the families are under the care of local health visitors and some temporary welfare provisions have been made.” There are 878 parking spaces at the park and ride. North Somerset Council may permanently prevent travellers from setting up camp in parks and open spaces across the district.
Council chiefs are considering applying for an injunction, similar to ones applied for by a number of councils across the country - particularly in the London boroughs - to stop travellers from pitching up on council-owned land.
If travellers break the injunction - which would be granted by the High Court - police and council officers would have the powers to move them on straight away without having to go through the series of procedures required now.