TRAVELLERS have moved on to Mount Street Car Park in Bridgwater.

A total of nine motorhomes and caravans were spotted on the car park off Northgate on Saturday, September 8.

It is a popular site for travellers who have set up encampments on the site before.

A spokesman at Sedgemoor District Council said: "In conjunction with the police, our legal team had, served notice on the group, giving the group 24 hours to move on, as well as carrying out the statutory checks required by law at the same time.  

"Having failed to move on, the travellers have now been served with notice of a court hearing listed for 10am on Friday, September 14.

Below is the following process that the Council takes, once it is has been, established that there is an unauthorised incursion on to Sedgemoor District Council owned land.

  • The travellers are issued with a letter advising that they are occupying council land without consent and are usually required to vacate within 24 hours
  • If they do not vacate an application is made to the County Court for a Possession Order and the notice of hearing is then served on the travellers.
  • Under court rules,  travellers must be given two clear days’ notice of the hearing, not including the day that the notice was served, the day of the hearing and not including week-ends or bank holidays; which is why is takes at least a week to move them on.
  • If they do not vacate, the Council attends the court hearing and seeks an Order for Possession Forthwith. This is then usually served on the travellers the same day with the instruction that they vacate within 24 hours.
  • If they still do not vacate, the police and bailiffs are called in to assist with the removal.