Travellers Evicted From Ealing Common

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Reportedly they have moved on to the empty Land Rover site on Western Avenue

Picture: J Dabrowska

The travellers who took up residence on Ealing Common have been now been evicted over a fortnight after arriving. Council contractors are to visit the common today (3 August) to begin the process of clearing up the site.

This Tuesday bailiffs visted the camp at noon and by 4pm the traveller were removed and followed out of the borough. The order granted is valid for three months.

There were over 25 caravans on site when the encampment was at its largest.

Court papers were served on the group on 22 July and a possession order was granted to the Council the following Thursday allowing them to serve notice on the camp the next day. Some of the group did leave that weekend but returned last Sunday (31 July). The fire brigade was subsequently called out to attend to a bonfire on the common.

Picture: J Dabrowska

There has also been a traveller encampment on Norwood Green in the last few weeks and it is believed that this Ealing Common gathering is part of the same group. Reportedly a new encampment of around 10-15 vehicles has appeared on the former Lookers Land Rover site on Western Avenue. It is not know if these are from the same group that was on Ealing Common.

It took Ealing Council several months of legal wranglings before they were able to evict the previous family group which had been camped on Ealing Common. The travellers then proceeded to set up camp across the road until they were evicted again.

Some locals have suggested the only way to prevent this occurring would be to remove the 'common' status and gate it off like a park.

August 5, 2016