Anger Over Debris Left By Ealing Common Encampment

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Local councillor says woman hospitalised after attack by traveller's dog

Rubbish strewn Ealing Common after New Year

Another encampment of travellers on Ealing Common over the Christmas holiday period has now departed leaving the area strewn with rubbish.

The group of 12 vehicles and 7 caravans appeared by the Warwick Road extension to the common on Sunday 23 December. Council offices were closed but the local police team served the group with code of conduct forms. The group told them that two of their vehicles had broken down as they were travelling down to the south coast.

Cllr Joanna Dabrowska, who represents Ealing Common ward, notified the relevant departments at the Council. She says she has been informed that a local resident had to go to hospital after allegedly being attacked by a dog belonging to one of the group on 2 January. Damage to the common due to skid marks where vehicles have been driving around on the grass has also occurred according to people who have since walked by the area.

Because of the holidays it was impossible to issue eviction notices until the New Year but on Wednesday, 2 January, eleven days after the arrival of the camp, the police exercised section 61 powers and the encampment departed.

Over 1,500 people signed a petition last year calling on Ealing Council to implement a borough-wide injunction on all public open spaces and other council-owned land to prevent such unauthorised encampments occurring. The Council rejected the petition saying such and approach "was not appropriate or feasible for the borough at present".

January 3, 2019